No longer indispensable, Koundé is on the market. Barcelona are expectingan offer commensurate with the player’s value (around €50 million) and anticipate it comingfrom a top Premier League side. As mentioned,Chelsea had previously given serious consideration to signing him, only to be pipped at the post by Barcelona. In the future, however, he could be a target forManchester City.
Barça’s sporting director,Deco, has confirmed thatGuardiola’s side had enquired about Koundé’savailability last summer. “Theywerelooking for a full-back and asked us if Koundé was on the market. However, we replied that he wasn’t, sothere was no offer and no negotiations.”
It is difficult to imagine, at the moment, that other clubs could enter the fray for the player.PSG might make a move for Koundé, whilst in Italy there is no confirmation of rumours regarding a potential swap deal involvingBastoni. The Inter centre-back is indeed among the players being monitored by the Catalans as a replacement, but the idea of brokering a deal involving two of the best defenders on the international scene appears complicated at present.