Chelsea only has itself to blame for mess in the Jules Kounde transfer saga

Jules Kounde appears to be headed in the right direction right now to join Barcelona in the near future. Naturally, football fans have learned that circumstances may change quickly, particularly when Chelsea and the Blaugrana are involved. Nevertheless, the Blues' 2022–23 season is already shaping up to be another discouraging stop on a perilous, miserable road. Kounde, who has spent more than a year on the verge of joining Chelsea, is about to become the second player Barcelona has grabbed from the hands of the reigning Club World Cup champion this summer.

The squad with no money is now laughing all the way to the bank as the Blues continue their search for centerback assistance. It's frustrating to witness this tale from a distance, impotent. While Chelsea has made many positive changes to the club in recent months, this specific transfer has been a misstep for both the old and current regimes. The only person responsible for this fiasco concerning the signing of Kounde will be the Blues themselves when they take a long, hard look at themselves before the forthcoming season.

It goes without saying that Chelsea was severely hampered by the government penalties and the ensuing ownership predicament. On multiple levels, the incompetence surrounding the management of Kounde, however, has been remarkable. For the past year, the Blues have reportedly made Kounde a top focus. It was said that the defender was adored by Chelsea's management and Thomas Tuchel. The Blues were discovered courting other potential centerback candidates, though, when it came time to put their money where their mouth was.

Matthijs de Ligt was the first, then Nathan Ake, and Kalidou Koulibaly. Chelsea looked into bringing in players like Presnel Kimpembe and Josko Gvardiol.