FC Barcelona are reportedly open to offloading one of their star players to Arsenal this summer but on the basis of one key condition.
This transfer window is expected to be another turbulent period for the Catalan giants, with Barcelona’s financial problems still as bad as ever as the La Liga side look to raise as much capital as possible to help offset the never-ending issues.
A number of academy players are expected to leave, with Arsenal already linked with a £12m move for teenage defender Mika Faye, who is seemingly being viewed as long-term cover for the likes of William Saliba at the back.
And it appears that Arsenal could soon be offered the chance to sign one of Barcelona’s best players.
Arsenal to be offered Jules Kounde if Barcelona fail to sell Ronald Araujo
According to Sport, Arsenal will be offered the chance to sign defender Jules Kounde, but only on the condition that fellow Barcelona teammate Ronald Araujo does not leave this summer.
Lauded as ‘amazing’ by former manager Xavi Hernandez, Kounde has been one of Barcelona’s best players since signing from Sevilla for €50m (£43m) back in 2022, with the Blaugrana open to selling the 25-year-old for €60m (£52m) this summer.
Able to play right-back and centre-back, Kounde is currently at the 2024 Euros with France, playing alongside Saliba and doing an impressive job for Didier Deschamps’ side , who last night booked their ticket to the quarter-finals.
And for Arsenal, the prospect of signing Kounde could be an interesting one given the profile the former Bordeaux defender offers for Mikel Arteta heading into the new Premier League season.
Kounde ticks a lot of boxes as an Arteta signing for Arsenal
25-years-old, proven in the UEFA Champions League and on the international stage and efficient in two positions in defence, it’s easy to see why Kounde would tick a lot of boxes for Arteta as a signing at Arsenal.
The French international is the sort of profile that thrives at Arsenal, with Kounde capable of playing centrally alongside Gabriel Magalhaes or even out at right-back to give Ben White a break given how much the English defender plays.
Indeed, Kounde could be the dream defensive signing for Arsenal this summer, and if Barcelona offer out the former Sevilla man to the Gunners, there’s a real chance that Arteta might accept the proposal to bring the defender to north London.
