Man Utd ready to bid for Kounde as Barcelona name transfer price with star in ‘spiral of frustration’

MANCHESTER UNITED are readying a bid for Barcelona star Jules Kounde, according to reports.

The defender snubbed Premier League interest last term to join the Catalan giants.

Jules Kounde has largely been deployed at right-back by BarcelonaRex

He has bagged a LaLiga winners’ medal during his first year at Barca, but is claimed to be unhappy nonetheless.

According to Catalan paper Sport, Kounde is in a “spiral of frustration” due to his role under Xavi.

Initially signed to play alongside Ronald Araujo at centre-back, the Frenchman has largely been shunted to right-back with Andreas Christensen getting the nod in the middle.

With Spain international Inigo Martinez set to arrive from Athletic Bilbao, the competition to play at centre-back is set to get even steeper.

The LaLiga champions are said to be “surprised” at Kounde’s stance – after the 24-year-old elected to snub all Prem interest last year as he only wanted Barca.

Kounde joined Barcelona for around £48million last summer.

This time around they will reportedly demand £65m for the highly-rated star.

Man United could opt to strengthen their backline with Kounde, in a move that would see him reunite with former international team-mate Raphael Varane.

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Kounde has also had to play at right-back for France – while at United he would have to compete with Varane and Lisandro Martinez to play in his favoured position.

Chelsea were strongly linked with Kounde last summer and could try again this time around.

He admitted to L’Equipe last year that he snubbed the Blues because Xavi was a “better communicator” than former Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel.

Kounde said: “Then there was the conversation with the coach.

“We talked about football, mainly. I felt a real confidence from him (Xavi), that he had a real knowledge of myself, my game and my qualities.’ 

“I spoke with Tuchel and I also felt that he wanted me to come but I simply preferred Xavi’s speech.”