Jules Kounde has effectively been put up for sale by FC Barcelona according to reports in Catalonia.
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FC Barcelona has put Jules Kounde in the shop window and reduced his price tag according to SPORT and Caught Offside, citing anonymous sources. Furthermore, the defender is already attracting interest from Premier League giants Liverpool and Chelsea.
Once more playing at right back, Kounde is having a strong World Cup in North America. After beating Sweden 3-0 in the last 32, his native France now faces Paraguay in the last 16 and then either Canada or Morocco in the quarterfinals.
His performances haven’t gone unnoticed, especially in England. With this in mind, Barça has reportedly reduced its asking price to $74.4 million (€65 million) for the 27-year-old.
Why would Barcelona wish to sell Kounde?
It would usually seem absurd to offload a player that should be at the peak of his powers given his age and standing for France.
But Barça needs a big sale to balance the books, and return to the 1:1 rule under Financial Fair Play limits.
Furthermore, it is fighting battles in the transfer market elsewhere and looking to land its own targets, with Julian Alvarez chief among them.
Reports in Argentina say that Alvarez has agreed to join Barça for five years. Elsewhere, though, it is claimed that Atletico Madrid want $171 million (€150 million) to hand over the Argentine because of the rejected bid Real Madrid tabled for him for that amount.
Letting go of Kounde makes sense. First there’s his injury history to consider, which meant he spent considerable amounts of time sidelined in 2025/2026.
Then there’s how much cover Hansi Flick has at right back. First off, Eric Garcia can play in that position, and so too can Ronald Araujo.
More natural in the role are Xavi Espart – from Marc Bernal, Pau Cubarsi and Lamine Yamal’s gifted La Masia Class of 2007 – plus Joao Cancelo.
Cancelo’s also at the World Cup with Portugual but technically returned to Al-Hilal this week.
That’s because the Portuguese’s second loan assignment in Catalonia expired on June 30, yet there’s still hope of Cancelo being signed permanently for a cut-fee.
It’s rare to pick up someone of his international pedigree and experience on the cheap, while the ease with which the 32-year-old is able to play on either flank for Flick makes his transfer a none-brainer.
This also means that Alejandro Balde’s future on the left is under threat too, but at least Marc Cucurella has been taken out of the equation by joining Real Madrid – which ends any prospect of returning to boyhood outfit Barcelona.