Chelsea and Manchester United have rekindled their interest from last summer in acquiring free-agent Barcelona defender Jules Kounde.
WHAT OCCURED? After failing to sign Kounde at Stamford Bridge last summer, when he joined Barcelona for an initial fee of €50 million (£42 million/$50 million), plus up to €10 million (£8.3 million/$10.2 million) in add-ons in a four-year contract, Sport reports that the Blues have revived their interest in the defender. Manchester United is apparently interested in the French international as well, so it’s not just the Premier League team from London that has expressed an interest.
THE BIGGER PICTURE: According to the source, the defender is ready to accept a new challenge and is open to moving if all sides can reach an agreement. Kounde is reportedly dissatisfied with his situation at Barcelona since Xavi Hernandez has mostly played him as a right-back rather than his natural position as a center-back. He is also aware that the team has added Atheltic’s Inigo Martinez as a center back, which would further relegate his speed to the right-back position.
Additionally, Barcelona has informed Kounde’s camp that they will not accept a transfer fee of less than €75 million if he is seeking a move to the Premier League. Barcelona is aware of the interest of the Premier League clubs. The Blaugrana are willing to sell a number of players, including Ansu Fati, Ferran Torres, Frank Kessie, and Raphinha, in order to balance their books and adhere to La Liga’s Financial Fair Play requirements (FFP).
THEN WHAT? It is no secret that Chelsea and Manchester United are both looking to add defensive players to their rosters. Kounde’s price tag, meanwhile, might end up being a roadblock for both clubs.
