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Barcelona suffered a 1-2 defeat at the hands of Atletico Madrid at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on Saturday, December 21, in LaLiga. Pedri sent the home side ahead in the 30th minute, but it proved to be a mere consolation as Rodrigo De Paul and Alexander Sorloth secured three points for the visitors.
Meanwhile, Arsenal have set their sights on a French defender. Elsewhere, the Catalans have received a boost in their pursuit of Rafael Leao.
On that note, let's look at the major Barcelona transfer stories from December 22, 2024.
Arsenal eyeing Jules Kounde
Arsenal have rekindled their interest in Jules Kounde, according to Fichajes.net. The Frenchman has been outstanding for Barcelona this season and has been an omnipresent figure under Hansi Flick.
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Kounde has appeared in all 25 games for the Catalans this campaign, starting 23 of them. A centre-back by profession, he has filled in admirably at right-back, even chipping in with one goal and six assists.
The 26-year-old's efforts have forced the Gunners to take note. The north London side have had their eyes on Kounde for a while, but have failed to secure his services.
However, Arsenal are apparently ready to return for him in 2025 and are even willing to offer €75m for his signature. The LaLiga giants are in financial distress and are expected to turn to player sales to ease the issue.
A move, though, could depend on a lot of factors. It is believed that Barcelona will not offload players in the winter, but a summer exit cannot be ruled out.
Barcelona receive Rafael Leao boost
Rafael Leao would prefer to join Barcelona if he leaves AC Milan, according to Fichajes.net. The Portuguese forward reportedly has a strained relationship with manager Paulo Fonseca and is willing to leave in 2025.
The Catalans, meanwhile, are also on the hunt for attacking reinforcements and apparently have Leao on their radar. The 25-year-old has scored six goals and set up six more from 22 games across competitions for the Rossoneri this season.
Leao has hinted that he could be open to a new adventure, which will be music to the LaLiga giants' ears. However, the player is under contract with AC Milan until 2028, so prising him away could be a costly affair. For now, Barcelona are expected to keep a close watch on developments at San Siro.
Catalans eyeing Leroy Sane
Barcelona are planning a move for Leroy Sane next summer, according to SPORT. The Catalans are planning to add more bite to their attack and are enticed by the possibility of signing the German for free.
Sane is a proven figure in the European circuit, but his contract with Bayern Munich expires in just over six months. The 28-year-old would prefer to stay at the Allianz Arena, but has admirers at Camp Nou as well.
The Bavarians have been in talks with the player's entourage regarding a new deal for a while. However, negotiations are yet to reach a conclusive end.
Bayern Munich are apparently willing to let him go unless he accepts a reduced contract. The LaLiga giants, however, are yet to make a move for Sane.
