Barcelona journalist Gerard Romero reports (via BarcaTimes) that Arsenal are interested in Jules Kounde this summer, and they’ve made contact over a potential move.
FC Barcelona are saying they won’t let the versatile defender leave unless it’s for a big offer, but they’re also waiting to see what will happen with Ronald Araujo.
Araujo has been linked with a move to Manchester United, and his departure for a significant fee would likely strengthen Barcelona’s position on Kounde.
But the defender is willing to extend his deal with Barcelona for the right offer, and he still has a contract until 2026, so he may well end up staying. In that case, Kounde’s future at the club would appear less certain.
![Arsenal contact Barcelona over France international 2 NAPLES, ITALY: Jules Kounde of FC Barcelona during the UEFA Champions League 2023/24 round of 16 first leg match between SSC Napoli and FC Barcelona at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on February 21, 2024. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)](https://dailycannon.com/static/uploads/2024/06/ssc-napoli-v-fc-barcelona-round-of-16-first-leg-uefa-champions-league-2023-24.jpg)
This isn’t the first time Kounde has been linked with a move to Arsenal, with credible reports suggesting the Gunners wanted to sign the defender before his move to Barcelona.
Back in 2021, David Ornstein reported that Kounde was a signing the Gunners would like to make at centre-back.
The issue was the price tag and Arsenal’s lack of European football, with Sevilla wanting around £50m and qualifying for next season’s Champions League.
In the end, the player stayed with Sevilla for another year before joining Barcelona for €50m (£42.3m) in 2022. Arsenal invested their money in Ben White instead, and everyone seemed happy enough with how things had turned out.
![Arsenal contact Barcelona over France international 3 France's Jules Kounde kicks the ball during the UEFA Euro 2024 Group D football match between France and Poland at the BVB Stadion in Dortmund on June 25, 2024. (Photo by KENZO TRIBOUILLARD / AFP)](https://dailycannon.com/static/uploads/2024/06/fbl-euro-2024-match32-fra-pol.jpg)
A few years down the line, it seems Arsenal may be ready to make another attempt to sign Kounde.
The 25-year-old made 48 appearances for Barcelona in 2023/24, playing at centre-back and right-back. He’s also played every minute of France’s Euro 2024 campaign so far, alongside Arsenal’s William Saliba.