Arsenal express interest in signing €45 million-rated Barcelona defender – report | OneFootball

According to a report from SPORT, Premier League side Arsenal have reached out to Barcelona to inquire about the availability of one of their key defenders, Jules Kounde.

Barcelona are currently in the midst of planning for the upcoming season and to build a strong and competitive team, they need to make several changes.

This involves bringing in new players and letting go of some existing ones, including some important players. This strategy is crucial for the club to generate the much-needed income to support their financial situation.

One player who might leave Barcelona this summer is Kounde. According to the aforementioned outlet, Arsenal are keen on signing the French defender and they have already made contact with Barcelona regarding this possibility.

Barcelona have conditions to sell Kounde

Barcelona’s sports management has identified only a few players as indispensable for the current transfer market.

Jules Kounde is wanted by Arsenal. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

These players include Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Pau Cubarsi, Pedri, Gavi, Fermin Lopez, and Lamine Yamal. For other players, they are open to listening to offers, but they won’t accept just any deal for some of their key players.

Kounde fits into this category. He started the previous season with a shaky performance but has since turned things around and become a crucial part of the defensive line.

As of today, he has embraced his role as the team’s right-back, improving steadily and becoming a reliable player for both Barcelona and the French national team during the Euro 2024 qualifiers.

Dilemma for Barcelona

Interestingly, earlier reports suggested that Barcelona are not considering selling Kounde, despite the likelihood of receiving substantial offers for him this summer.

It has also been reported that Saudi Arabian club Al-Ittihad are interested in Kounde as they look ahead to the next transfer window.

Given Kounde’s importance to the team, it seems unlikely that Barcelona will let him go. Alongside other key defenders like Ronald Araujo and Cubarsi, Kounde is expected to stay and continue contributing to the team’s success.

On the other hand, Andreas Christensen is also expected to remain with the club, providing options in both defence and midfield.