Liverpool and Man Utd have been given transfer boost ahead of the summer window with news Barcelona \u2018will listen to offers\u2019 for Jules Kounde, according to reports.<\/p>\n
The Reds and Red Devils are likely to invest in their defences in the summer transfer window with uncertainty about a number of their players.<\/p>\n
Liverpool<\/strong><\/a>, who missed out on Marc Guehi in the summer, have lined up a \u00a360m move for Rennes centre-back Jeremy Jacquet ahead of the summer but it seems likely that they will lose Ibrahima Konate on a free transfer.<\/p>\n Injuries to Conor Bradley and Jeremie Frimpong also saw them consider a right-back signing in the winter market with discussions over a potential deal for RB Leipzig\u2019s\u00a0Lutsharel Geertruida<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n Man Utd<\/strong><\/a> could also look to improve the right-hand side of their defence over the summer and Spanish website Fichajes insists that Barcelona \u2018will listen to offers\u2019 to France international Kounde.<\/p>\n Premier League trio Liverpool, Man Utd and Chelsea \u2018are all closely monitoring the situation\u2019 with his \u2018starting price being close to 80 million euros\u2019.<\/p>\n READ:\u00a0Five players with Prem experience who can be signed now, including \u2018wonderful\u2019 forward Klopp \u2018lied to\u2019<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n The report adds: \u2018The coaching staff, led by\u00a0Hansi Flick,\u00a0expected greater consistency and leadership from a player expected to make a difference in the defensive line. However, his performance has been inconsistent, alternating solid matches with others in which he has shown worrying lapses in concentration.<\/p>\n \u2018These doubts aren\u2019t limited to the sporting aspect. There\u2019s also some concern within the board about the player\u2019s development, especially in an economic climate where every major asset can become a market opportunity. Barcelona needs to balance its books and isn\u2019t ruling out significant moves if the financial gain is substantial.\u2019<\/p>\n The Premier League is a \u2018great temptation\u2019 for Kounde, who can play at right-back or in central defence, and Barcelona see the interest from Liverpool and Man Utd as a way to grow his valuation from \u20ac65m to \u20ac80m.<\/p>\n France team-mate Dayot Upamecano has previously described Kounde as a \u201cleader\u201d and \u201cconfident\u201d player after playing against him in the Champions League.<\/p>\n Upamecano said: \u201cI played against him in the Champions League. He\u2019s a confident player and I hope things continue that way. He\u2019s also a leader and he\u2019s beginning to have a lot of experience. I wish him all the best.\u201d<\/p>\n READ:\u00a0Liverpool tipped to re-sign defender as \u2018elite\u2019 Reds star \u2018will go\u2019 in the summer<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Liverpool boss Arne Slot has revealed that the signing Jacquet feeds into their transfer strategy of signing young players with a high celing, while having one eye on Virgil van Dijk\u2019s future.<\/p>\n