Barcelona could consider selling €60 million-rated key defender in the summer – report

The summer transfer window of 2022 at FC Barcelona will be remembered for the infamous ‘economic levers’ and how it helped the club pull off several big signings, one of which saw Jules Kounde arrive from Sevilla.

Barcelona beat Chelsea to the signing of the French international, who was understood to be an express request from manager Xavi Hernandez.

Kounde had a solid debut season at Barça, largely playing as a right-back, as the Catalans went on to lift the La Liga title. However, during the summer, he made it clear to Xavi that he wanted to return to his natural centre-back position this term.

While Kounde’s wish was granted, his form has been on the decline this season. Be it as a central defender or at right-back, where he has been in the past few games, he has underperformed.

Barcelona concerned, could consider selling Kounde

Kounde’s decline in performances across the board this season have led to concerns within the Barcelona camp, reports Toni Juanmarti of SPORT.

As reported earlier, those in the know-how of things in the dressing room believe that Kounde is not going through his best moment, both personally and on a sporting level, with the return to right-back being cited as one of the reasons.

Kounde’s regression is not lost on the Barça administration which is aware that the club needs to make a big sale in the summer to generate revenue.

Fighting for his future? (Photo by Yasser Bakhsh/Getty Images)

And the Frenchman may end up being the candidate who is shipped off by the Blaugrana, given that he is likely to fetch a significant sum, with his market value currently standing at €60 million.

Pau Cubarsi another factor

The emergence of Pau Cubarsi in the past few matches is another factor that could prompt Barcelona to offload Kounde in the summer.

The La Masia graduate, who turned 17 earlier this week, has given a very good account of himself in his three senior appearances and is only bound to grow.

As such, Barcelona might not hesitate to sell a senior centre-back from the squad to raise cash. There had been talk of Andreas Christensen likely being the sacrificial lamb, but Kounde’s current disappointing form could tilt the scales on his side.