Premier League clubs 'to move' as Jules Koundé rethinks Barcelona role | OneFootball

Jules Koundé has started only two matches this season, losing the right-back spot to Eric García, and is now reassessing his Barcelona future while several clubs monitor his situation.

According to Sport, Barcelona told Koundé he remained part of the project but was no longer a strategic player, while Alejandro Balde was advised he would see very few minutes and could listen to offers. The club had signalled an openness to bids, yet Koundé chose to stay and fight for his place.

Hansi Flick’s stance appears purely sporting. On arrival he prioritised the full-back roles, identified problems in those areas and sought to rebuild them with new faces after gaps repeatedly appeared behind the full-backs.

Koundé has started two of Barcelona’s eight official games, with those outings pointing more to resting García than a change in the pecking order. Andreas Christensen’s injury offers a window that Koundé is waiting to seize, otherwise his position could become harder. He is a substitute at Barcelona but a starter for France, an unusual dynamic.

His market value remains high and his contract runs until 2030, which makes his reduced role striking. At least three big Premier League clubs are interested, and Bayern Munich were linked in the summer before a move stalled when planned defensive exits there did not happen. Any departure would need to suit all parties and could bring Barcelona more than 50 million euros while saving his salary.

Source: Goal.com

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