Kounde Within Reach as Barcelona Slash Asking Price

Jules Kounde's departure from Barcelona is looking increasingly likely, with the Catalan outfit having dramatically reduced their valuation of the French defender to £55m—down from an initial asking price of £65-70m.

The move has caught the attention of both Liverpool and Chelsea, two Premier League heavyweights who have long harboured interest in the 27-year-old. The Blues were first to chase Kounde back in summer 2022 when he was establishing himself as one of LaLiga's elite talents at Sevilla, only to watch him opt for Barcelona instead.

Since swapping Andalusia for Catalonia, Kounde has proven a shrewd acquisition for Barca. His 188 appearances have yielded three Spanish league titles, a Copa del Rey crown, and three Supercopa de Espana triumphs. His versatility—capable of operating as either right-back or centre-half—has made him a cornerstone of their defensive setup. Last season alone, under Hansi Flick's management, he notched up 47 appearances.

Yet Barcelona now view him as expendable. Having sounded out potential suitors including Liverpool and Chelsea, the Blaugrana appear ready to cash in. At £55m, the fee represents a genuine bargain for one of Europe's finest full-backs, and could well spark concrete offers from England's elite.

Liverpool are monitoring the situation closely as they plan their defensive overhaul. The Reds face a mounting injury crisis in that department, with Ibrahima Konate having departed to Real Madrid on a free transfer, while both Conor Bradley and Jeremie Frimpong endured injury-ravaged campaigns in 2025-26. Kounde's ability to play multiple positions would slot neatly into their requirements.

However, sporting director Richard Hughes and manager Andoni Iraola have their sights set elsewhere for now. The priority remains unearthing a replacement for Mohamed Salah, though their top target Yan Diomande has indicated a preference for Paris Saint-Germain. A new central midfielder is also on the shopping list, with Curtis Jones keen to depart and Alexis Mac Allister also attracting exit speculation.

Chelsea, for their part, have prioritised Crystal Palace's Maxence Lacroix as their primary defensive reinforcement under Xabi Alonso. Should that pursuit prove fruitless, however, Kounde could well emerge as a fallback option.

The France international has featured prominently in transfer gossip throughout 2026. In February, reports suggested Liverpool would stretch to £70m for his signature. An April update claimed Chelsea were making an "aggressive" play for him. By May, Barcelona-based sources indicated the Reds were preparing a significant proposal.

Now, with Barcelona's new asking price in place, the landscape has shifted considerably. Both clubs have genuine reason to make their move.