European heavyweights eye Barcelona's Jules Kounde amid defensive shake-up

European heavyweights eye Barcelona's Jules Kounde amid defensive shake-up

Jules Kounde finds himself in the spotlight as European heavyweights like Manchester United and Bayern Munich show interest in the Barcelona defender.

This interest comes as no surprise given the 25-year-old Kounde's impressive performances and consistent market value, according to Mundo Deportivo.

Having entered his second season at Barcelona, Kounde has long been on the radar of top clubs, particularly in the Premier League. Speculation mounts within Barcelona that this summer will be no different.

Last summer, Kounde expressed his dissatisfaction with playing as a full-back, and with the current surplus of central defenders at Barcelona, his future role is uncertain. With Ronald Araujo and Christensen seemingly the preferred choices, and Inigo Martinez making a significant impact when fit, competition for places is fierce. 

Additionally, the emergence of Pau Cubarsi adds another layer of complexity to the defensive setup.

Kounde has been deployed at right-back, where he competes with Joao Cancelo and Hector Fort for a starting berth. Given these circumstances, it's not unthinkable that Kounde may seek a move to a club where he can feature prominently in his preferred central role. 

If a compelling offer materializes, Barcelona's management are said to be open to considering his departure.

READ MORE: Bayern Munich's Manuel Neuer in doubt for clash against Bayer Leverkusen