Bayern Munich eyeing Barcelona star slipping down the Barcelona pecking order | OneFootball

Competition inside FC Barcelona’s squad has intensified quickly this season, particularly in defence, where Hansi Flick has shown little hesitation in altering the hierarchy.

Several players who looked firmly established last year are now facing a more demanding battle for minutes. With form, tactical fit and versatility all influencing selection, there is far less certainty around some positions than there was only a few months ago. Jules Kounde is one of the players affected, and his situation has now attracted interest from Bayern Munich.

According to SPORT, the German champions are monitoring the French defender and could consider a move if Min-Jae Kim leaves the club. The South Korean has been linked with a possible departure, which has prompted Bayern to assess alternatives capable of playing across the back line.

Kounde fits that profile and hi technical level and experience also make him an appealing option for a side that values defenders comfortable in possession. The 27-year-old can operate at centre-back or right-back and remains under contract with Barcelona until 2030.

Fall down the pecking order

The issue for Kounde is his current standing under Flick at the Camp Nou. Eric Garcia has been preferred more regularly at right-back, while Kounde has spent several recent matches on the bench. Garcia also revealed that Flick had informed him before the season that he would feature more often in the position, suggesting the shift in the pecking order was planned rather than temporary.

Barcelona, however, are under no immediate pressure to make a decision. Kounde still offers valuable depth across two defensive positions, and that flexibility could become important once the fixture schedule becomes heavier. At the same time, prolonged spells outside the starting XI may eventually force both the player and the club to reassess the situation.

For Bayern, the logic is straightforward as a player of Kounde’s profile rarely becomes available without a change in circumstances. Whether that opportunity develops into something concrete will depend largely on what happens between now and January.