Arsenal have spent over £200m this summer on new additions so far, welcoming players in a variety of positions as Mikel Arteta and Edu look to return to the Premier League in similar form to last season’s success.
Kai Havertz, Jurrien Timber, David Raya and a club-record smashing fee of £105m for Declan Rice have concluded the Gunners’ business to this date, however there is speculation that the north Londoners may be poised to delve back into the market.
Timber arrived for added defensive cover, an area that was pivotal for Arteta and Edu to improve after last campaign’s blunder towards the end of the calendar following a shortage in the position due to injury. However, Arsenal are back where they started, with the Dutchman being ruled out for the foreseeable future in the opening fixture of the Premier League season.
A few names have circulated, with Barcelona defender Jules Kounde emerging as the latest potential target, as relayed by @BlxckNews on X.
Arsenal have put Jules Koundé on their wish list and are considering making an offer for the French defender due to Timber's long-term injury. Arsenal want to take advantage of Barça's financial situation and the signing of Cancelo, to go for the player. [@BlxckNews] pic.twitter.com/NTKqh7lsJt
— Gunners (@Gunnersc0m) August 19, 2023
The Spanish champions relied heavily on the centre-back in their title winning campaign, with him making 29 appearances under Xavi, contributing to an impressive 18 clean sheets in La Liga.
There’s little surprise that the Frenchman is gaining attention from the Premier League, however with him being a favoured figure in Catalonia, it’s questionable just how much Arsenal would have to pay to lure the 24-year-old away from the Camp Nou.
Market value – how much is Jules Kounde worth?
As per Transfermarkt, Kounde’s market value sits at €60m, where it has been since 2021 due to his eye-catching performances for both Sevilla and Barcelona. The Paris-born marvel was captured by the Catalan giants in 2022 for a fee in the region of €55m, with the Spanish champions beating Chelsea to the rising star’s signature.
Considering the importance of Kounde’s role in Xavi’s squad, as well as his high value in the French national team, the 24-year-old’s value should be expected to increase as he matures through his twenties, making now a potentially smart time to swoop.
Of course, Arsenal could take the easy route and pay the versatile centre-back’s release clause, however with it being set at €1bn (£839m), the Gunners will face a negotiation over his price tag, should they move in further for his services.
Possible Arsenal transfer fee
With the initial news of Arsenal’s speculated interest in Kounde being provided by @BlxckNews on Twitter X, the source named a potential asking price for the defender, with claims that the Gunners were hoping to capitalise on Barcelona’s financial woes.
It’s said that Arsenal could offer a fee in the region of €60m-€70m (£51m-£60m) for the Frenchman, at a price close to his current market value making the deal an attractive one.
However, as stated, considering Barca’s need for profit this summer, Edu and Arteta could have the room to negotiate a lower price for the central defender, especially following the emergence of Barcelona’s interest in Joao Cancelo.
While there remains a lot of speculation regarding a potential deal, the fact remains that Arsenal must recruit another body in the back line, whether it be Kounde or someone of a similar calibre.
