5 clubs interested in Barcelona defender Jules Kounde - report

Barcelona defender Jules Kounde is reported to be attracting transfer interest from as many as five of Europe's biggest clubs – including three from the Premier League.

Kounde was a high profile €50m signing from Sevilla in 2022 and has been a regular across each of his seasons at the club so far, both as a centre-back and right-back.

But Barcelona's financial limitations continue and a group of five central defenders in the current squad is set to become six in summer once Eric Garcia's loan at Girona ends. It points to one being sold, with Kounde and Ronald Araujo easily commanding the highest market value.

Araujo has already been heavily linked with Bayern Munich, as well as Manchester United and Chelsea, while Mundo Deportivo writes that United and Chelsea are also showing interest in Kounde – both clubs had been linked prior to his 2022 transfer to Camp Nou. But Paris Saint-Germain, Inter and nouveau-riche Newcastle United are also said to be in "the race" too.

Kounde has a contract with Barcelona until the summer of 2027, which should strengthen the club's ability to command a premium fee for the 25-year-old.

The Frenchman has primarily been of use to Barcelona on the right of the back four. The arrival of Joao Cancelo last summer on loan from Manchester City had allowed Kounde to play in his more favoured central role, only for long-term injury to Alejandro Balde in January to force the Portuguese to cover on the left instead and recreate the void on the right to be filled.

Cancelo's preference is to complete a permanent switch to Camp Nou, while Balde should be fit again next season, having undergone successful surgery on his hamstring tendon.

READ THE LATEST TRANSFER NEWS & GOSSIP FROM AROUND THE WORLD