Chelsea’s prospective swoop for Jules Kounde – and the salary the Sevilla star would command – played a major role in Andreas Christensen’s decision to leave the club, according to reports.
The 26-year-old is about to enter the last month of his contract at Stamford Bridge having failed to agree fresh terms after months of talks, with the defender expected to join Barcelona on a free transfer.
Christensen faced a backlash from Chelsea supporters after it emerged he had withdrawn himself from selection for Saturday’s FA Cup final defeat to Liverpool, leaving the team hotel before the game citing illness.
Having joined the London club’s academy from Brondby as a teenager, Christensen’s decade-long spell at the club is in danger of having a rather acrimonious end.
But, according to The Athletic, the Denmark international feels the issues lie with the club and was unhappy with how discussions over a renewal progressed – particularly their last contract offer.
In the end, Chelsea only offered Christensen a £140,000-per-week deal with no signing-on fee – with the total value of the package actually worth less than the last extension he signed, which did include a huge signing bonus.
The £140,000-a-week salary would have been around half what Chelsea’s top earners currently receive, while it was less than the £230,000-a-week offer made to Antonio Rudiger – who has also decided to leave.
When it became clear that Rudiger would not be staying at the club– the German has now agreed terms with Real Madrid – Chelsea did not divert those funds towards upping their offer for Christensen, while further talks have been prevented since Roman Abramovich was sanctioned.
The Athletic’s report also claims one of the issues Christensen’s representatives had related to the possible arrival of Kounde, who would have come in on a greater salary than Christensen.
Given that the Dane has been at the club for so long, and won five major trophies including the Champions League, it did not sit well that he would be bumped down the salary pecking order – particularly as he was being promised a vital role in the team.
In addition to losing Christensen and Rudiger on free transfers to Barca and Real respectively, Chelsea are also braced to potentially lose Marcos Alonso and Cesar Azpilicueta too – with that duo keen to return to Spain this summer.
