Sevilla president Jose Castro admits they would've wiped their debts by selling Jules Kounde to Chelsea.

France international Kounde, 22, was Chelsea's No 1 defensive target during the summer transfer window but they were unwilling to meet his £68.5m release clause.

Jose Castro has claimed the European champions offered £42.5m, which would have been enough to return Sevilla to a profit after Spain's stadium lockout.

Castro told Diario de Sevilla: "We are the second team with the highest salary cap capacity.

"Nobody can escape the fact we are coming out of a pandemic and this year there was no choice but to give a negative financial result.

"There has been no income from season tickets, match tickets or bars. Marketing and television revenues have suffered.

"Even so, with Chelsea's offer of €50million, the deficit was wiped out. That speaks of the strength of the club.

"I don't know how many teams in Spain would say 'no' to Chelsea's €50m and maintain this deficit, considering that the squad is worth €400m [£340m].

"The deficit comes from the pandemic, but also from choosing to build a stronger squad rather than sell in the last two markets.

"That's called ambition and sometimes to have ambition you have to have a deficit. It's OK."