“€55 To €65 Million For Him”- FC Barcelona In Line To Buy Gerard Pique’s Replacement
After making progress toward completing the acquisition of Andreas Christensen, which is still pending, FC Barcelona has begun looking for an additional center back to add to their roster.
The board is concerned about the future of Gerard Pique. They have decided that Jules Kounde will serve as their preferred long-term successor for the experienced central defender.
Despite this, Barcelona has been met with significant challenges in their pursuit of Kounde. They have a positive connection with Sevilla. But, they may have trouble finding the financial resources necessary to complete the transfer of the defender.
FC Barcelona wants a Gerard Pique replacement
An update on the situation was provided by transfer guru Fabrizio Romano (h/t BarcaTimes). He said that Barcelona’s interest in Kounde is still considered “serious.”
Xavi Hernandez has a high opinion of the Frenchman. The club believes that signing him would be the best long-term answer to the problems the club is having on the defensive end. Despite the probable financial obstacles, the club is still desperate to sign the Frenchman.
In contrast to the previously rumored sum of €80 million, Romano reports that Sevilla’s asking price for Kounde is more likely to fall anywhere between €55 and €65 million.
Barcelona’s reported interest in Jules Kounde
On the other hand, the Italian includes that in the competition to acquire Jules Kounde, Chelsea currently has the upper hand. The young player was quite close to joining the Blues during the previous summer’s transfer window. But the deal fell through as Sevilla altered their demands at the eleventh hour.
As a result of the impending departures of players such as Christensen, Cesar Azpilicueta, and Antonio Rudiger in the summer, Chelsea will be very eager to get Kounde this time around. As a result, they are looking to meet their requirements.
The same cannot be said of Barcelona. They are now in the midst of a financial mess. Barca needs to get rid of its unwanted stars before they can make moves to acquire fresh players this summer.