Liverpool willing to offer £50 million for Barcelona defender – report

Liverpool are interested in signing Barcelona defender Jules Kounde and would be willing to offer around £50 million for him this summer according to reports in England as relayed by Mundo Deportivo’s Roger Torello.

Kounde has been at Barça for just one season, having joined the club only last summer from Sevilla. Over the last week or so, there was a lot of chatter about his future, though, owing to him being used as a makeshift right-back by manager Xavi instead of his natural centre-back role.

It gave way to speculations that Kounde had told Barcelona that he is open to offers in the summer.

The Frenchman soon got out on top of the matter and denied those claims, as he made it abundantly clear on social media that he was not looking to leave.

“To make it clear: at no time did I ask to leave, so I’m not going anywhere,” he wrote.

Despite that, it seems like Liverpool are looking to test the waters as they are interested in reinforcing their defence in the summer.

The report states that manager Jurgen Klopp has asked the Reds to make an effort to sign the 24-year-old French international. And, they are understood to be considering an offer worth £50 million (€57.6 million) for the former Sevilla man.

However, Liverpool’s potential offer is likely to fall on deaf ears at Barcelona as Xavi has also made it clear that Kounde remains a key part of his plans for next season.

The 24-year-old signed a five-year contract until 2027 upon arrival and has grown into a vital cog in the manager’s setup. In 38 appearances in his debut season, he has chipped in with a goal and six assists while helping turn Barça’s defensive into one of the strongest in Europe.