Manchester City will reportedly look to sign 26-year-old French international from Barcelona in a deal worth €80 million in the summer transfer window.
According to a report by Spanish outlet Fichajes, Jules Kounde is the subject of interest from Manchester City. The Citizens are eager to bolster their defensive unit by signing a versatile right-back in the summer transfer window. So, the 26-year-old Barcelona mainstay has emerged as a target for the Premier League club.
Manchester City will soon launch the offensive to sign the Frenchman in the summer transfer window, having prepared a bid worth €80 million to secure his services. However, convincing Barcelona to part ways with Kounde will be a tall order.
Jules Kounde and his progress at FC Barcelona
Jules Kounde has transformed into one of the best right-backs in the world since joining FC Barcelona from Sevilla in July 2022 despite being a centre-back at the Andalusian club. The 26-year-old has gone from strength to strength in the last three years, even though he has not played in his preferred position during this period. He has also become the first-choice right-back for France.
The French international has turned out nearly 150 times thus far for Barcelona while chipping in with seven goals and 18 assists. Meanwhile, Kounde’s progress in the last three years has not gone unnoticed, capturing the attention of several high-profile clubs across Europe. Manchester City will be among the prospective suitors vying for his signature in the summer transfer window.
Premier League adventure beckons?
Manchester City’s interest in Jules Kounde is understandable. The Citizens are scouring the market for a new right-back after Kyle Walker completed a bargain move to Burnley earlier in the summer transfer window. In addition, Rico Lewis will unlikely take over from Walker as the first-choice right-back for Manchester City, considering Matheus Nunes usurped him last season.
Several candidates, including Valentino Livramento, have emerged on Manchester City’s radar. However, recent reports have claimed that the Citizens have ruled out a summer move for the Newcastle United mainstay. So, Kounde is a viable target, with Manchester City ready to submit a bid worth €80 million to secure the Frenchman’s services.
However, convincing Barcelona to part ways with Kounde will be a tall order, with the defending La Liga champions viewing him as one of the cornerstones of their project. So, even a sizeable bid worth €80 million may not be enough for Manchester City to land the 26-year-old French international.
