Julen Lopetegui: 'Chelsea did not meet Jules Kounde asking price'

Sevilla boss Julen Lopetegui has revealed that Chelsea were unable to meet his club's asking price for Jules Kounde during the summer transfer window.

The Blues were strongly linked with a move for the France international and had been expected to sign him before the transfer window closed for business.

Kounde ultimately remained at Estadio Ramon past the deadline, though, and Lopetegui has revealed that the Premier League outfit did not meet Sevilla's valuation.

"Kounde in the end has stayed because the club has decided that it was the right thing to do based on the evaluation of the offers they may have had," Lopetegui told Diario de Sevilla.

"For me, as a coach, that Jules stays is positive. With the evolution he has had in these two years, it is positive, without any doubt. We trust that he'll continue to grow with us and, above all, perform, which is the most important thing."

Sevilla allegedly refused to sell the 22-year-old unless they received an offer of €80m (£68m), which would have activated the centre-back's release clause.