Liverpool are drawing up an \u20ac80million (\u00a369m) offer to land Jules Kounde from Barcelona this summer, as per a report, and it comes after an underwhelming Anfield signing received firm criticism.<\/p>\n
Kounde has long been linked with a move to the Premier League. Chelsea held talks for the Frenchman in the summer of 2022, only to be beaten to the deal by Barca.<\/p>\n
Kounde<\/a> joined Barca for \u20ac55m, and he has gone on to make 186 appearances in all competitions for the Blaugrana.<\/p>\n He largely played as a centre-half for previous club Sevilla but has since established himself as Barca\u2019s first-choice right-back.<\/p>\n Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal have all been credited with interest in Kounde over the past 18 months, and Liverpool<\/a> have now entered the scene.<\/p>\n Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo<\/a> claim Liverpool are \u2018planning to submit an offer at the end of the season\u2019, with a bid for Kounde being \u2018prepared\u2019.<\/p>\n The report tips Liverpool to put \u20ac80m on the table. That is supposedly the amount Barca want to sell the 27-year-old this summer.<\/p>\n Arne Slot sees Kounde as his new right-back, while the player\u2019s versatility means he could also fill in at centre-back if needed.<\/p>\n It was claimed in February that Barca are \u2018willing\u2019 to sell Kounde for \u20ac80m<\/a> as Liverpool rival Man Utd for his signature.<\/p>\n On April 30, Sport claimed Barca chiefs are open to the departures of Kounde, Alejandro Balde and Marc Casado<\/a> to bring in vital transfer funds.<\/p>\n In October, Barca sporting director Deco confirmed City made contact for Kounde last summer<\/a>.<\/p>\n While last month, Chelsea were tipped to launch an \u2018aggressive\u2019 move<\/a> to finally bring Kounde to England.<\/p>\n Liverpool spent \u00a329.5m on Jeremie Frimpong last summer to replace Trent Alexander-Arnold at right-back.<\/p>\n However, it has been a problem position for Slot this campaign, as both Frimpong and Conor Bradley have battled injuries.<\/p>\n Slot has also left fans baffled at times by using Frimpong as a right winger and playing midfielders such as Dominik Szoboszlai and Curtis Jones at right-back.<\/p>\n Former Liverpool star Jan Molby raised serious questions over Frimpong\u2019s physicality in April<\/a> \u2013 a problem Kounde would immediately solve.<\/p>\n Want more breaking transfer lines from original sources? Add TEAMtalk as a preferred source on Google <\/a>to your favourites list for news you can trust.<\/p>\n Kounde could replace \u2018kid\u2019 Jeremie Frimpong<\/p>\n When asked if Frimpong\u2019s pace could add energy to Liverpool\u2019s attack, Molby replied: \u201cI struggle with it, and I\u2019ve had that problem for a while.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s only natural that football fans wish new players to do well, and Frimpong only had to do one thing and people would go, \u2018he\u2019s getting better, you know.\u2019<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve always been a little bit critical, because look beyond his pace and then tell me where are the top four Premier League qualities. I don\u2019t see it.<\/p>\n \u201cHe sometimes, on the pitch, acts like a kid, he sometimes plays like a kid, and he looks like a kid doesn\u2019t he, when you see the size of him next to some of them.<\/p>\n \u201cIt doesn\u2019t mean he\u2019s not a great footballer, but this is just a different ball game.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ve got to be able to look after yourself, to be physical, to play, and I just can\u2019t see in what world that what turns this [around] is Frimpong and his pace. I can\u2019t have that.\u201d<\/p>\n Liverpool\u2019s interest in a world-class right winger has been handed a major setback as he is being lined up for a major new contract<\/a>.<\/p>\n