According to Sport, Milan is the latest club to express interest in Barcelona defender Jules Kounde. While Barcelona has no plans to sell Kounde, the club would be open to negotiations if it received a substantial offer.
Kounde's future has once again drawn the attention of several top European clubs, with Milan the latest team to join the pursuit of the Barcelona and France defender.
According to Italian media outlet Calciomercato, Milan are looking for a top-tier centre-back in the transfer market, with Kounde among the players they are considering to strengthen their defence.
Kounde's situation at Barcelona has changed from previous seasons. The French defender is no longer a guaranteed starter under Flick, a development that has drawn the attention of elite European clubs.
Although Kounde has gradually earned more playing time and become more involved with the team since the last international break, he is no longer as indispensable as he once was.
Barcelona does not believe it needs to sell Kounde, but the club would not reject a financially attractive offer if one were to materialize.
A substantial offer could prompt both parties to open negotiations, especially given Barcelona's current financial constraints and the potential revenue from selling a high-profile player in international football.
However, Milan is not the only club interested in Kounde.
Chelsea previously tried to sign Kounde before he joined Barcelona and continue to monitor his situation. Bayern are also keeping a close eye on developments surrounding the French international. Both clubs are waiting to see whether a suitable transfer opportunity emerges.
Nevertheless, all clubs hoping to sign Kounde face one significant obstacle: the player's own wishes.
Kounde has never expressed a desire to leave Barcelona and remains fully committed to the club's project. His contract runs until June 2030, so Barcelona are under no pressure to negotiate his departure.
In fact, Barcelona's management at Camp Nou has other priorities. If the club needed to generate revenue by selling an important player, it would prioritize selling Balde over Kounde.
Currently, Milan’s interest simply adds another European powerhouse to the list of clubs monitoring Kounde, with no concrete progress reported regarding a potential transfer.
The French defender remains focused on re-establishing himself as a key player at Barcelona, and his increased playing time since the international break reinforces his commitment.
Ultimately, the decision will rest with Kounde himself.
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