Barcelona are ready to part ways with their 25-year-old versatile defender Jules Kounde for €40 million amid interest from Arsenal.
According to a report by Fichajes, Barcelona could part ways with Jules Kounde in the upcoming transfer window. The 25-year-old defender has not been at his best in the ongoing season, but he still has a lot of admirers and the Catalan giants seem ready to cash in on the interest.
Jules Kounde at Arsenal: The Story So Far
Jules Kounde joined Barcelona in the summer of 2022 after proving himself in La Liga with Sevilla. In his very first season with the Catalan giants, the French centre-back was used as a right-back for the majority of the fixtures.
The 25-year-old had an impressive debut season but was not really happy playing out of position regularly. Reports linked him with a move away from the club, and Arsenal were one of the clubs interested in his services. But, Xavi managed to keep hold of Kounde and promised him a more central role in the 2023/24 season.
Out of his 16 appearances in the ongoing season, 14 have come in the heart of the defence. While Kounde is playing in his preferred positions, his levels have dropped of late, which could be one of the reasons why Barcelona are ready to part ways with him.
Will Kounde Leave Barcelona?
The Blaugrana want to reconstruct their defence, and they are looking to cash in on the French international. Their main objective is to retain the services of Ronald Araujo, who has been linked with a move to Bayern Munich and they are willing to sacrifice Kounde to raise funds and reinforce their backline.
The Catalan giants are ready to sell the 25-year-old for a fee of €40 million, and they could use the money raised to secure the services of Joao Cancelo on a permanent basis in the summer. Arsenal could be a potential destination for the French international.
The Gunners wanted to sign him back in the day, and they could revive their interest in his services. Mikel Arteta is keen on bolstering his defence and signing a versatile defender, who can feature in a central role as well as full-back in the winter can surely be a huge boost for them.
While the competition for the signatures of the 25-year-old will be intense, the Gunners’ defensive need suggests they could strike a deal with Barcelona. But nothing is set in stone yet.
40 million ? are they stupid? his worth is over 100 million. barca just terrible business men. buy high and sell low.