MANCHESTER UNITED and Chelsea are set to do battle for Barcelona defender Jules Kounde this summer, according to reports.
Kounde, 25, who can play as both a right-back and centre-half, was heavily linked with a move to Stamford Bridge before he joined the Catalan giants from Sevilla on a five-year deal in 2022.
Jules Kounde could be set to leave the Nou Camp in the summerAlamy
Erik ten Hag and Mauricio Pochettino could both try to sign KoundeGetty
Kounde has been ever-present for Barcelona this season
He has gone on to rack up 75 appearances for the Spanish side, winning the LaLiga title last season.
But Barcelona are now struggling on the pitch as they sit eight points adrift of LaLiga leaders Real Madrid.
And while they have made it into the knockout stages of the Champions League for the first time since 2021 – where they will face Napoli in the second leg of their last-16 tie on Tuesday – they are still in a financial crisis.
As a result, Sport understands Barcelona’s sporting director Deco is looking to offload TWO centre-backs in the summer.
They are planning to place their trust Ronald Araujo and Pau Cubarsi, with Kounde set to be put on the transfer market.
Kounde’s preference is to remain at the Nou Camp, but the club are keen to sell to raise funds.
And both Man Utd and Chelsea are said to be “very, very interested” in the France international.
Two years after missing out on the player, The Blues are linked with returning for Kounde.
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However, they are believed to be “wary” of Man Utd monitoring the defender – who has 24 caps for his country.
Kounde is keen to play consistently as a centre-half rather than a right-back – where he has featured in each of the last nine league matches.
And both Man Utd and Chelsea could benefit from some more strength in depth at the heart of their defences – having conceded 39 and 45 goals in the Premier League this season.
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