As has been well-established by now, Barcelona will need to make some major sales in the summer transfer window in order to address their Financial Fair Play issues and sign new stars to reinforce the squad.
The centre-back department is one where cuts could be made given the number of options in the position. After all, Barcelona have Ronald Araujo, Andreas Christensen, Jules Kounde, Inigo Martinez, and up-and-coming talent Pau Cubarsi in the central defensive slots.
Beyond that, Eric Garcia and Clement Lenglet will be returning from their loan spells, although neither is expected to stay at the club. Moreover, Mika Faye is also pushing for a first-team spot after impressing with Barça Atletic.
Jules Kounde could be sold
Now, Mundo Deportivo is reporting that Barcelona will listen to offers for Jules Kounde in the summer given the overbooking in the central defensive department.
Araujo is attracting serious interest from Bayern Munich, but he is an ‘untouchable’ and the club are working on renewing him. Martinez has done well and provides a left-footed centre-back option, while Christensen is proving himself useful in the pivot midfield role.
With Cubarsi rated highly and regarded as a mainstay for the future, Kounde is the one likely to take the fall in the summer.
The Frenchman, signed from Sevilla in 2022, had already expressed his displeasure about being used as a right-back last season.
Having been moved to his natural centre-back position this season, Kounde has once again been reverted to right-back in recent weeks by Xavi. And, the defender’s performances have not always been convincing either.
All these factors could contribute to Kounde, whose market value stands at €60 million, being the one offloaded in the summer, with the Frenchman having admirers in the Premier League.
Although with a managerial change set to take place at the end of the season, one has to presume that the new manager will have a say in the matter. On top of that, Cubarsi’s evolution could also be a factor in whether Barcelona offload a centre-back or not.
