PSG have already met two Barcelona players in transfer talks

Tom Weber

3 Apr 2024 19:14 BST
3 min read

Joan Laporta, Barcelona, Luis Enrique, PSG — © IMAGO

PSG have held transfer talks with Jules Kounde and Hector Fort, according to Catalan media.

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The French giants are looking to beef up their ranks in the summer in a bid to make a seamless transition into the post-Kylian Mbappe era. The French megastar is irreplaceable and PSG will therefore try to build a cohesive team that can compensate for the loss of the prolific attacker.

One of the key areas that the Parisians are looking to strengthen is their defence. According to Catalunya Radio, PSG have identified two Barcelona defenders who become important cogs in Luis Enrique's side. The Catalant outlet even goes so far as to claim that a meeting between PSG chiefs and their Barcelona counterparts took place two weeks ago.

The two players in question are Jules Kounde and Hector Fort, but getting both of them won't be easy for PSG. Indeed, Barcelona are desperate to keep hold of one of them.

Kounde for sale, Fort untouchable

It is claimed that Barcelona immediately rebuffed the approach for La Masia graduate Fort. A Barcelona native, the Blaugrana view the 17-year-old as a potential long-term solution to their persistent right-back issues and bluntly told PSG that he is not for sale.

The potential departure of Kounde, however, is a different matter. Spanish media already began reporting in March that the Frenchman is facing an uncertain future in Catalunya and the above-mentioned report echoes this, stating that the versatile 25-year-old could be sold in the summer following the emergence of Pau Cubarsi and with Mika Faye also waiting in the wings.

Man Utd, who are also keen on Faye, and Chelsea were credited with an interest in Kounde last month, though the Blues' supposed keenness on the defender has already been squashed. A move to PSG could be attractive to the Paris-born France international.