Raphinha done, now Barcelona agree terms with Kounde
FT Desk
- 14 Jul 2022 13:52 BST
- 3 min read
Barcelona are understood to have agreed personal terms with Sevilla centre-back Jules Kounde having already secured the signature of Raphinha from Leeds.
France international Kounde is a long-term target for Barcelona with the 23-year-old seen as the perfect replacement for Gerard Pique, who turns 36 next season.
Barcelona are beginning to turn a corner off the pitch after activating "financial levers" which have allowed them to resume business in the transfer market.
More than €1 billion in debt at the height of their economic woes, the sale of TV rights and a percentage of their marketing division means that they can now actively attempt to acquire new players.
#ICYMI: Jules Koundé's wondergoal 🆚 @FCBarcelona 😍
📲 https://t.co/2ps8gW15Xy#WeareSevilla | @jkeey4 pic.twitter.com/ICQXM5RPiw— Sevilla FC (@SevillaFC_ENG) February 12, 2021
Franck Kessie and Andreas Christensen have already been presented as free transfers from AC Milan and Chelsea respectively, while the club announced on Wednesday that there was an agreement in principle to sign Brazil winger Raphinha from Leeds for €75 million.
Robert Lewandowski is also strongly linked with a €50m transfer despite returning to pre-season training with Bayern Munich, and it seems that Barca's transfer spending won't stop there.
Kounde wants the move
Spanish journalist Gerard Romero reports that Kounde's desire to play for Barcelona played a key role in the negotiations, and that now the clubs now need to agree terms on a transfer fee.
Kounde joined Sevilla from Bordeaux for €25m in 2019, but it now rated at €58m by Football Transfers sophisticated in-house algorithm having won the Europa League with the club in 2020.
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Kounde has two years left on his contract at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan, further driving up his price, but USA right-back Sergino Dest has been suggested a potential makeweight in any deal.
Kounde would join a fearsome stable of centre-backs at Camp Nou, with Christensen and Pique also joined by Uruguay international Ronald Araujo, who extended his Barcelona contract in April.
