Anfield’s Next Blockbuster? Liverpool Set Sights on €80M Move for Barcelona Star Jules Koundé
The English side would be prepared to pursue the right-back amid the injuries to Frimpong and Bradley.
Anfield is already buzzing with rumors of its next major market play. A familiar name has resurfaced at the top of Liverpool’s recruitment list: Jules Koundé. The French international, now a cornerstone for both FC Barcelona and the French National Team, is reportedly the subject of a massive "Red" scouting operation involving a figure that is impossible to ignore—€80 million ($86.5M).
This isn't the first time the versatile defender has appeared on the Merseyside radar. Since his move from Sevilla to Barça in 2022, Koundé has been linked with Liverpool in several transfer windows. However, the interest has now reached a new dimension, backed by a potential bid that signals a desire for a total structural overhaul of the Liverpool defense.
The Ultimate Hybrid Profile
Liverpool’s new sporting project is hunting for multi-functional players—tactically disciplined athletes who have already proven themselves on the world’s biggest stages. Koundé fits this mold perfectly.
- Versatility: Originally trained as a center-back, he has evolved into one of the world's most reliable right-backs.
- Tactical Intelligence: His ability to read the game, his recovery speed, and his "clean" ball progression from the back make him an elite asset.
- Premier League Ready: In the frantic pace of the English top flight, where fullbacks must attack and defend with equal intensity, Koundé’s balance is viewed as a "strategic masterstroke."
The Barcelona Stance: No Discounts
While things are looking up at the Camp Nou, the club’s economic reconstruction is still a work in progress. Koundé is a vital piece for the Blaugrana, having been signed for €50 million plus variables with a contract running until 2030.
While his current market value sits around €65M, Barcelona has reportedly made it clear: they will not even pick up the phone for anything less than €80 million. The Catalan hierarchy views any potential sale not as a "clearance," but as a high-value transaction that would require a "massive suitcase" of cash to justify losing such a reliable defender.
Statement of Intent or Market Strategy?
The big question in the UK is whether Liverpool will pull the trigger on a formal bid. In a market where elite-level fullbacks are seeing their prices skyrocket, investing in a player in his absolute prime (27 years old) represents a sound medium-term investment.
Moreover, securing Koundé would send a deafening message to Liverpool’s direct rivals in both the Premier League and the Champions League. While official negotiations haven't started, the fact that Koundé’s name is being mentioned alongside a specific €80M price tag proves that Liverpool is ready to explore the highest tier of the market.
