In-demand French defender prefers Barcelona over Chelsea, Newcastle United

Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez’s decision to not count on Gerard Pique as a regular starter from next season onwards has accentuated the need for the club to sign another new centre-back this summer.

The Blaugrana already have a deal in place to sign Andreas Christensen but are on the lookout for another top defender. And, Sevilla and France centre-back Jules Kounde has been earmarked as the manager’s preferred target.

The 23-year-old has been a revelation since arriving in Spain in 2019 from Bordeaux. He has been a mainstay in Julen Lopetegui’s side who have punched above their weight in recent seasons, leading to interest from several top clubs.

Chelsea are one of the most interested parties in signing Kounde this summer. The Blues, who are losing Christensen to Barcelona and have seen Antonio Rudiger join Real Madrid, are intent on bolstering their ranks with Kounde.

There is also interest from Chelsea’s Premier League rivals Newcastle United, who, backed by their new owners, are ready to splash the cash this summer as they look to build a team capable of breaking into the top six.

However, as reported on the cover page of Mundo Deportivo on June 15, Kounde has Barcelona as his first preference this summer, despite the fact that both Chelsea and Newcastle United are ready to trigger his release clause that exists in the contract with Sevilla.

And due to the player’s insistence on wanting to join the Blaugrana, the two clubs are already working on devising a formula for a transfer that would benefit both parties while not burdening the Catalans, who are in a difficult financial situation.

If signed, Kounde has the potential to be a top addition to this Barcelona side. The 23-year-old has proven himself in La Liga for three seasons now and has his best years ahead of him. The defensive axis of Kounde and Ronald Araujo could form the bedrock of this team for years.

However, all said and done, Barcelona need to figure out a way to get their financial situation sorted if they are to land the French international.

At the moment, there is not much room to manoeuvre for the Blaugrana and with other clubs lurking, they must focus on addressing the economic crisis at the earliest if they wish to land their intended targets this summer.