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Barcelona defender Jules Kounde is open to leaving the La Liga giants despite only joining the club last summer, according to Spanish outlet Relevo.
Kounde was one of eight players the Blaugrana signed during last year's summer transfer window. The Camp Nou outfit shelled out an initial sum of €50 million to sign the defender from Sevilla.
The France international has since been a key player for Barcelona, making 38 appearances across competitions for the club. He has helped Xavi's side win La Liga and the Spanish Super Cup.
Kounde, though, has not been entirely happy during his time in Catalonia as he has had to play out of position for most of the season. The former Sevilla man is a central defender by trade, but 21 of his appearances for the Blaugrana have come at right-back.
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Spanish sports daily Diario AS reported last month that Kounde has informed Xavi that he does not want to continue playing at right-back next season. There have also been claims that frustration about playing out of position has led to the defender's relationship with the manager deteriorating.
It has now emerged that Kounde is open to leaving the La Liga champions for the same reason. According to the aforementioned source, the 24-year-old has asked Barcelona to consider offers for him this summer.
Kounde is reportedly pondering leaving the Camp Nou as he believes he will have to continue playing as a right-back next term. However, it does not necessarily mean he will depart the club.
Toni Juanmarti of Relevo has reported that Barcelona rate the former Girondins Bordeaux defender at €80 million. A sale cannot be ruled out as the Catalonian giants need to raise funds to solve their well-documented financial issues.
Kounde has a market in England, where clubs were interested in signing him during his time at Sevilla. Chelsea were interested in acquiring him last summer, but the Frenchman reportedly turned down the move as then-Blues manager Thomas Tuchel wanted him to play at right-back.
Barcelona are interested in Manchester City right-back Joao Cancelo
According to Relevo, Barcelona do not intend to invest a significant amount of money to sign a right-back. Their priority is to sign a top defensive midfielder as Sergio Busquets has confirmed his decision to leave the club.
The Blaugrana, meanwhile, have Ronald Araujo, Andreas Christensen and Eric Garcia as options at center-back. With Inigo Martinez expected to move to the Camp Nou on a free transfer this summer, it is understandable that Jules Kounde is concerned about playing out of position again.
However, it is worth noting that the La Liga giants have been credited with an interest in several right-backs ahead of the summer. Manchester City's Joao Cancelo is among those linked with a transfer to Catalonia.
Bayern Munich are unlikely to make Cancelo's loan move permanent and Barcelona hope to take advantage of the situation. As per Catalonian daily SPORT (h/t @barcacentre on Twitter), the Spanish champions are working on a deal to sign the right-back on loan. The City defender is reportedly prepared to take a wage cut to facilitate the transfer.
