FC Barcelona defender Jules Kounde has asked the Spanish club to accept transfer offers for him this summer as the French international is reportedly unhappy at the club.
- Kounde unhappy at Barcelona
- Defender spoke with Xavi
- Barcelona created shortlist with replacements
What is then news?
Reports from Spain claim that Jules Kounde has contacted the Barcelona board to express his unhappiness with his role in Xavi’s team. The Frenchman is not happy to be playing at right-back all season, having been promised to play as central defender when Barcelona signed him from Sevilla last summer. Kounde would have asked the club management to listen to offers, if they come.
The backstory
Kounde was taken over from Sevilla last season for a transfer fee of around 50 million euros plus 15 million in variables. Since his arrival, the defender has played 38 games, most of them as a right back. It has already been suggested that Kounde has entered into talks with Xavi about his role in the team, but that the Spanish coach has failed to convince his player to continue playing as a right-back, even after this season.
What next?
If Kounde actually submits a transfer request to the Barcelona club management, the interested clubs will be lining up for him this summer. The defender is regarded as one of the best on his position in Europe and is a regular in the French national team. Premier League clubs will therefore be happy to do business with Barcelona for the defender if possible.
Yet Barcelona themselves would not be keen to get rid of Kounde after one season. Xavi still sees an important role for the defender and hopes he decides to stay longer at the club. However, Barcelona would already be compiling a shortlist with possible replacements for Kounde. Names that were mentioned are Feyenoord defender Lutsharel Geertruida, Diogo Dalot of Manchester United and Bayern Munich defender Noussair Mazraoui.
