FC Barcelona Reach Pre-Contract Agreement With Kounde

FC Barcelona have reached a pre-contract agreement with Sevilla’s Jules Kounde.

The French international is just one of two main transfer targets that remain for Barca head coach Xavi Hernandez after Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha were brought to the Camp Nou last week and were both able to star in Saturday’s 1-0 win over Real Madrid in Las Vegas.

On the morning of the preseason friendly match, reports from Gerard Romero claimed that Barca had managed to pip Chelsea to Kounde’s signature just like they did with Raphinha last week.

Almost identically as in the Brazilian’s case, the west London giants put a £55mn ($66mn) bid in for Kounde which Sevilla accepted only for the player to hold out and wait for Barca to make their approach.

Romero stated that Sevilla had accepted a separate proposal from Barca, which some sources have denied to MARCA.

Over at SPORT, however, they allege on Sunday morning that FC Barcelona have already reached a four-year pre-contract agreement with Kounde whose transfer they hope to finalize next week.

With the player already on board, then, all that remains is Barca making a formal offer to their La Liga rivals Sevilla.

Asked about Kounde on Saturday following the 1-0 win over Madrid where Raphinha scored a first half screamer, Xavi was non-committal but made it clear that the Catalans are “trying to strengthen every position”.

Barca’s fresh assault on Kounde has been inspired by the activation of their second ‘economic lever’ on Friday morning through selling a further 15% of their TV rights to American Sixth Street for the next 25 years in exchange for €400mn ($408mn).

Once Kounde has been wrapped up, Barca could then turn attention to their last remaining target in Manchester City midfielder Bernardo Silva.

Though the Portuguese playmaker was previously valued at €100mn ($102mn), this sum is said to have dropped to €80mn ($82mn) according to Romero who also added that the potential transfer is dependent on Frenkie de Jong heading to Manchester United after City and Barca struck a deal.

De Jong is unwilling to entertain this idea, however, and Xavi seems keen to keep the Dutchman who has been filling in at center back on the US preseason tour.