Chelsea have reportedly tabled a £104 million bid for Barcelona’s defensive stalwarts Ronald Araujo and Jules Kounde as they look to bolster their squad during the January transfer window.
Chelsea Makes £104m Move for Barcelona Duo Araujo and Kounde
The Blues, under the guidance of head coach Enzo Maresca, have enjoyed a strong start to the Premier League season.
A commanding 3-0 victory over Aston Villa has lifted them to third place, level on points with Arsenal and nine behind leaders Liverpool.
However, despite a successful summer transfer window that brought in 11 new faces, Chelsea are determined to add more firepower to their defensive ranks.
Reports from Spain suggest Chelsea have reached out to Barcelona with an ambitious offer to secure the duo. Araujo, often described as a “phenomenon,” is seen as a solution to add grit and solidity to Chelsea’s backline.
Meanwhile, Kounde, praised as a “specialist,” is being eyed as the ideal candidate to strengthen the right-back position, an area the club feels requires reinforcements.
Barcelona, however, are reluctant to part with both players. Club president Joan Laporta and sporting director Deco reportedly favor keeping Kounde while being more open to discussing Araujo’s potential departure.
This potential double swoop comes at a critical time for Chelsea, who are juggling a packed festive fixture list and coping with injuries to key players like Wesley Fofana and Reece James.
Maresca faces a tactical challenge, with Southampton and Tottenham looming on the horizon.
Speaking ahead of their next match, Maresca acknowledged the difficulties posed by Southampton’s resilience despite their struggles at the bottom of the table.
He also hinted at possible defensive rotations in light of Fofana’s hamstring injury, saying: “We need to find solutions. Wes was fantastic, but now it’s about the group stepping up.”
The prospect of signing Araujo and Kounde could provide a massive boost for Chelsea as they aim to solidify their defense and sustain their pursuit of silverware.
However, prying both players from Barcelona’s grip remains a daunting challenge.
