Arsenal, Chelsea and Newcastle United have received a major blow in their pursuit of 25-year-old Barcelona defender Jules Kounde.
According to a report by Mundo Deportivo, Jules Kounde has no intention of parting ways with Barcelona anytime soon. While there is interest in his services from Chelsea, Newcastle United, and Arsenal, the English giants are unlikely to get their hands on the 25-year-old.
Kounde’s time at Barcelona
Jules Kounde made a name for himself at Sevilla before joining Barcelona in the summer of 2022. The Catalan giants forked out €50 million plus another €12 million in variables to land him at the club.
Since joining them, he has been a constant feature in their defence. In his first season at the club, the majority of his appearances came on the right side of the Barcelona backline, but he has returned to a more central role in this campaign.
While he has been ever present in their defence and still has over three years left on his deal, Kounde has often been linked with a move away from the club. There is still a lot of interest in his services from England in particular.
English clubs pushing to sign Jules Kounde
Chelsea are one of the clubs keen on having him in their ranks. The Blues fought hard with Barcelona back in the day to sign him before failing to sign him. However, their interest has remained intact, and they are looking at him as someone who can fill the big boots of Thiago Silva with the Brazilian veteran likely to part ways with the London club at the end of the season.
Their scouts were present in the stands of the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona to watch the 25-year-old in action against Napoli suggesting their interest is quite serious. But, they are not the only suitors. Even Newcastle United and Arsenal are keen on securing his signatures.
The Magpies have not managed to reach the level they did last season, and they are expected to make a few moves to strengthen their squad. Newcastle United want defensive reinforcements, and the Barcelona star is one of their targets.
Arsenal are always on the lookout for players who can bolster their squad, and they feel Kounde could be a great addition to their ranks. Not only will he give them more quality in the heart of the defence, but he can even feature as a right-back when needed.
While Chelsea, Arsenal, and Newcastle United are all keen, and Barcelona’s financial situation will make them think of a potential sale, Jules Kounde has no intentions of leaving the Spanish giants as of now. As a result, a deal looks unlikely at this stage.
