According to reports, Manchester United have joined Premier League rivals Arsenal in the race to sign Jules Kounde from FC Barcelona.
Man Utd are known to be in the market for new defenders heading into next season and one of their priorities is to sign at least one new centre-back.
Kounde to Man Utd?
Lisandro Martinez returned to full fitness during the final weeks of the 2023/24 season and Man Utd are searching for his new partner with Raphael Varane set to leave the club upon the expiry of his contract later this month.
The Red Devils have been heavily linked with England pair Jarrad Branthwaite and Marc Guehi in recent weeks, but Kounde – a reported target of Arsenal – is an alternative option.
The France international was targeted by Premier League clubs before he joined Barcelona from Sevilla during the 2022 summer transfer window for around £42m.
Kounde has proven to be a brilliant signing for Barcelona and his versatility has been useful as he’s regularly been used at centre-back and right-back.
Despite this, according to reports in Spain, the 25-year-old has a ‘chance of leaving’ Barcelona this summer.
It is noted that Barcelona are targeting Nico Williams, Luis Diaz and Joshua Kimmich, but ‘sales are required’ to make these deals possible.
Ansu Fati, Sergiño Dest, Clement Lenglet, Eric Garcia, Pablo Torre and Ferran Torres are mentioned as ‘transferable players’ who could provide the club with ‘significant income’.
But it may be ‘necessary to sell some key players’ and along with Kounde, Raphinha, Ronald Araujo and Frenkie de Jong are candidates to leave.
Regarding Man Utd’s interest in Kounde, it is said that the defender ‘will be sacrificed’ if the Premier League giants submit a substantial bid and an offer has already been ‘put on the table’.
The report adds: ‘According to sources, United would be willing to put 40 million euros as an initial offer. For this price, Joan Laporta is clear: he is not selling.
‘However, if the 60 million is reached, a figure more in line with what Barcelona paid for his signing, he will agree, against his will and that of Flick, to enter into a negotiation.’
Man Utd are also working with a tight budget, with The Mirror naming eight players up for sale as they look to ‘generate more than £150m’.
