The players Barcelona plan to sign after Jules Kounde
Karan Tejwani
- Updated: 28 Jul 2022 20:07 BST
- 4 min read
Barcelona have struck a deal to sign Jules Kounde from Sevilla, after weeks of negotiations and beating off competition from Chelsea.
The Catalan club have long wanted to improve their defensive options and identified Kounde as a top target for the centre-back position.
They have been in negotiations with the player for a long time, asking him to be patient and avoid a Chelsea move, as they weaved through their financial issues to sign the player.
And, despite a larger bid on the table from Chelsea, Barca eventually agreed an initial €50 million deal to bring the Frenchman to the club.
Barcelona have already had a busy window, signing Robert Lewandowski, Franck Kessie, Raphinha and Andreas Christensen, and may not be done, as they want to add more after Kounde.
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Who are Barcelona looking to sign after Kounde?
They still wish to add to their squad to improve ahead of next season, as they look to challenge on multiple fronts and bring back the glory of years gone by.
Xavi’s side want to improve and add more depth to their full-back positions, and are hoping to add one right and left back to their side before the transfer window comes to an end.
They have already identified the Chelsea duo of Cesar Azpilicueta and Marcos Alonso, but negotiations for the pair may be quite difficult.
Both Spaniards’ respective contracts at Stamford Bridge run out next year and neither plan to sign any extensions, which ideally would make it easier for them to leave the Blues.
However, Chelsea wish to block any move to avoid helping out Barcelona, as the two clubs have been locked in battles for identical transfer targets such as Kounde, Raphinha and Ousmane Dembele, who extended at Barcelona.
Azpilicueta has made it clear that he wishes to move back to Spain after spending a decade at Chelsea, but he may not get his move so easily.
✅ Robert Lewandowski
✅ Raphinha
✅ Ousmane Dembele (renewal)
✅ Andreas Christensen
✅ Franck Kessie
⏳ Jules Kounde
👀 Marcos Alonso
👀 Cesar Azpilicueta
😬 Barcelona probably aren’t Thomas Tuchel’s favourite team this summer pic.twitter.com/cmiNpdKGKm— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) July 25, 2022
The other target Barcelona have identified is in midfield, and a signing could be possible, however it depends on if Frenkie de Jong leaves the club.
De Jong has long been linked with a move to Manchester United, and while both clubs are looking to get the transfer completed, matters aren’t that easy when it comes to the player.
De Jong wishes to earn his deferred wages before leaving, which is holding up the move, and ultimately holding up Barcelona’s transfer plans.
The club have identified Manchester City’s Bernardo Silva as an option to replace him, and Xavi is a fan of the player, willing to bring him to the Camp Nou, but that will only happen if De Jong leaves.
It’s believed that the English champions want about €80 million for the Portuguese player, who has grown to become an important piece of City’s team, and a move won’t be that easy.
Barcelona already have plenty of options in midfield including new signing Kessie, as well as the team’s brilliant youngsters in Gavi, Pedri and Nico, so it may not be an immediate priority.
