Jules Koundé, Barcelona’s central defender, is attracting interest from Premier League giants Chelsea and Manchester United, according to reports from Sport.
Both clubs are said to be very keen on the 25-year-old Frenchman, who could be available for transfer this summer. Barcelona are reportedly planning a defensive reshuffle, and Koundé could be part of that.
While Koundé has established himself as a key player for Barca, the club’s financial situation means they might need to sell players before buying new ones. This has alerted Chelsea and United, who are both looking to bolster their defenses.
Chelsea were recently linked with Sporting CP’s Ousmane Diomande, while Manchester United are expected to undergo a significant squad overhaul under new manager Erik ten Hag.
Despite the interest, Koundé reportedly prefers to stay at Barcelona. However, he’d ideally like to play in his natural center-back position, which hasn’t always been the case at Barca.
Barcelona’s defensive decisions extend beyond Koundé. They also need to make calls on the futures of Clément Lenglet (currently on loan at Aston Villa), Andreas Christensen, and Eric García.
This summer transfer window could see Koundé become a central figure in a defensive merry-go-round between Barcelona and two Premier League heavyweights.
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