Defender Jules Kounde has accepted that his tenure at Barcelona is nearing its conclusion as Liverpool prepares a £64m transfer bid for the French international. The Premier League club targets defensive reinforcements during the winter transfer window or next summer to secure their backline for the future.
Liverpool Transfer Strategy and Defensive Needs
Liverpool requires defensive restructuring as club captain Virgil van Dijk enters the final year of his contract. The Merseyside club faced early-season defensive vulnerabilities, while summer arrivals Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez experienced difficult adjustments following their moves to Anfield. However, summer signing Ronald Araujo successfully stabilized the right-back position after arriving on loan with an option to buy for around £47m from Barcelona, according to reports from Spanish outlet Nacional.
Kounde Status at Barcelona and Transfer Valuation
Kounde served as a regular starter for Barcelona in prior seasons, but he logged only one La Liga start for the Catalan club prior to the international break. Nacional reports that Liverpool is lining up a formal bid worth 60 million euros plus 15 million euros in add-ons (£64m). The 27-year-old defender is reportedly open to the move, recognizing that a substantial formal offer from the Premier League would facilitate his departure from Spain.
Tactical Fit and Defensive Versatility
Both Kounde and Araujo offer positional flexibility by slotting in at both right-back and centre-back, making Kounde a direct alternative if the club bypasses a permanent deal for Araujo. While Liverpool has yet to submit a formal offer, both clubs and the player remain aware of the financial parameters required to complete the transfer.
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