Jules Kounde is no longer 'untouchable' at FC Barcelona, with the club prepared to listen to offers for the French right back this summer according to SPORT, which cited anonymous sources.
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Jules Kounde is no longer 'untouchable' at FC Barcelona, with the club prepared to listen to offers for the French right back this summer according to SPORT, which cited anonymous sources.
Kounde was one of the main signings in the summer of the ‘economic levers’ in 2022. That’s when President Joan Lapora sold off percentages of future television rights and parts of the club’s assets such as Barça Studios, in order to finance the arrivals of the Frenchman alongside Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha.
All of those transfers have proven to be roaring successes, and pivotal to the Blaugrana’s modern-day domestic success which saw them sweep a treble under Hansi Flick last term or five out of six Spanish trophies on offer since the German arrived in 2024.
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Kounde will go down as a modern day club legend for his extra time winner in the Copa del Rey final against Real Madrid. Yet this season was undoubtedly his weakest beset by injuries while the likes of Eric Garcia, Joao Cancelo and Xavi Espart have all replaced him at right back.
Heading into next term, Barça will listen to offers for Kounde, who has always had interest from the Premier League.
Aged 27, the World Cup runner up should be at his peak and able to command something close to the $64 million (€55 million) paid for him from Sevilla according to ESPN.
For any potential suitor, Kounde is a multifunctional defender capable of playing both center back - where he started his career - and right back which is a position he adapted to under Xavi Hernandez.
Kounde’s sale will serve a number of benefits for Barca too. As reported at the weekend, it can possibly bring former La Masia pupil Marc Cucurella back home from Chelsea, which is the club the Catalans famously beat for Kounde’s signature.
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Even if no pursuit for Cucurella is made, however, Barça could still use the Kounde money to help bankroll the pursuit of Julian Alvarez believed to cost more than the $116 million (€100 million) Deco and co. reportedly bid for him on Friday.
If Barelona really offload Kounde, Joao Cancelo would be the obvious fill-in for him at right back providing the Portuguese’s loan move from Al-Hilal is made permanent.
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