With reports claiming that Chelsea were close to sealing a deal for Sevilla defender Jules Kounde, Spanish reporter Gerard Romero has claimed that Barcelona have hijacked the deal.

According to reliable Spanish journalist Gerard Romero on his Jijantes FC Twitch channel, Barcelona have reached an agreement in principle to sign Kounde.

Chelsea were believed to have reached an agreement with Sevilla for Kounde, for a transfer fee worth £55m.

The reports are however untrue, as Mundo Deportivo are reporting that the claims have been overblown, with Sevilla insisting that there has been ‘zero contact’ with their Barca counterparts.

El Chiringuito have also debunked the rumour, claiming that Kounde hijack rumours are totally false and feel they are a last-ditch ploy to try and hijack the deal.

However, Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel has claimed he has been disappointed with Barcelona’s approach of his player Cesar Azpilicueta, and has said he won’t be letting Azpilicueta return to Spain.

Asked if he was annoyed at Barcelona pushing to sign Azpilicueta, Tuchel replied: “Maybe a little bit.”

Tuchel also said of Azpilicueta’s situation: “It’s a tough question because I am not sure if I want to give Azpi what he wants.

“At some point it is about what we want. I just made the comparison about how much we fought for [Kalidou] Koulibaly, who is a national team player and roughly the same age.

“He is a hugely important player for Napoli but we have a Spanish international who is the captain at Chelsea.

“I see him maybe at the same level but Barcelona don’t see him on that level. So I am not sure if I want to give him what he wants as he is a huge player.

“We don’t think so much about other clubs. The focus is on us and what we need. I said that to him and I say it to you that I understand on a personal and a career level.

“But I am not only in this role to give him what he wants. I am a manager for Chelsea who wants to do what’s best for Chelsea.”