Liverpool has set their sights on a standout Barcelona defender and is ready to table an €80m bid to land him.
Arne Slot seeks to bolster his backline as Virgil van Dijk’s contract nears its end and Joe Gomez battles persistent injuries, with FSG’s healthy finances—bolstered by Champions League revenues and smart sales—greenlighting ambitious raids on La Liga rivals.
Whispers from Catalonia suggest Barça’s willingness to cash in, fueling a saga that could redefine both clubs’ fortunes.
That defender is Jules Koundé, the French World Cup winner whose versatility across right-back and center-half has made him indispensable under Hansi Flick, yet now faces an Anfield exit as Barcelona eye squad refresh funds.
Fichajes reports Barcelona will listen to offers for the 27-year-old, valued at around €60-80m, with Liverpool leading the chase ahead of Manchester United and Newcastle interest.
Koundé’s pinpoint passing (92% accuracy this season) and ball-playing prowess fit Slot’s possession-heavy blueprint perfectly, offering competition and cover in a defense conceding just 0.8 goals per game in the Premier League.
Barcelona’s openness stems from financial pressures post-Laporta’s resignation and interim president Rafael Yuste’s austerity drive, aiming to finance Flick’s targets like Nico Schlotterbeck or a Lewandowski successor.
Retaining Koundé remains a priority, but a mega-offer could tempt, especially with La Masia prospects like Pau Cubarsí (17) primed for elevation and Koundé’s occasional positional fluidity irking purists.
For Liverpool, landing Koundé would signal intent after a title defense stutter, pairing his elite recovery pace with Van Dijk’s leadership for years.
Slot’s Gegenpress evolution demands such upgrades, and with Trent Alexander-Arnold’s future secured, funds from fringe sales like Caoimhin Kelleher could sweeten the deal.
Yet Barça’s high asking price and Koundé’s loyalty—expressed post-Mallorca win—promise tense negotiations.
As summer looms, this transfer chess match pits Merseyside ambition against Camp Nou realism, potentially crowning Liverpool’s next defensive cornerstone.
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