Barcelona table €58 million plus variables offer for Jules Kounde – report

Amid all the excitement over the imminent arrival of Robert Lewandowski, Barcelona have already set their attention to other top targets in the market as Xavi looks to finalise his team planning ahead of the new season.

While the club have done well to strengthen the attacking unit, the defensive department remains a weakness and to that end, Barça have now prioritised a move for Jules Kounde.

The Sevilla starlet has been identified as the ideal defensive target for Barcelona for multiple reasons, and with players such as Raphinha, Lewandowski and Ousmane Dembele already joining the club, Barça are expected to step up their pursuit of the Frenchman in the coming days.

According to Alvaro Munoz Gomez, the Catalans have already proposed an official bid for Kounde this week. They are ready to fork out a fee of around €58 million plus add-ons, although the overall value of the variables have been unspecified by the journalist.

If the numbers are accurate, Barcelona may have an excellent opportunity to sign Kounde, who is believed to be valued at around €60-65 million by Sevilla.

There were talks of a possibility to lower the cost of the operation by including a few of the fringe players at Barcelona. However, with the likes of Clement Lenglet, Philippe Coutinho and Francisco Trincao already leaving Camp Nou, Barça do not have plenty of options.

As such, the Blaugrana may have no option but to propose a cash-only deal. But in light of their financial crisis, it will not be surprising to see the club trying to negotiate the payment on separate installments.

Nevertheless, if the deal goes through, Kounde could become the fifth major investment for Barça this summer, joining a list that includes the likes of Andreas Christensen, Franck Kessie, Raphinha, Ousmane Dembele and most recently, Lewandowski, who is set to complete his medical in Miami tomorrow.