Report: Chelsea beat Barcelona in race for Sevilla's Kounde

Chelsea's defense is about to get another injection of talent with Jules Kounde's impending arrival from Sevilla.

The Blues are on the verge of finalizing their third summer signing after agreeing to a fee with Sevilla worth around £55 million for the French center-back, according to The Guardian's Jacob Steinberg.

The 23-year-old is reportedly expected to sign a long-term contract that will keep him at Stamford Bridge until 2027.

Barcelona were also in the race to sign Kounde, but the financially-strained club's inability to offer a fee that matched Sevilla's valuation dashed their hopes of luring him to Camp Nou, Steinberg reports.

Kounde is the latest addition to Chelsea's revamped back-line following the signing of Kalidou Koulibaly from Napoli for a fee reportedly worth £33.8 million. The Premier League club also added winger Raheem Sterling from Manchester City earlier this summer.

Paris Saint-Germain's Presnel Kimpembe and RB Leipzig's Josko Gvardiol are other potential defenders Chelsea may target in the coming weeks.