Arsenal ready to capitalise on Barcelona's financial trouble with approach for defender Jules Kounde

Sport reports that Arsenal have enquired about Barca star Kounde, and the Spanish outfit's struggle with hefty financial issues may force them into selling players, including the French international defender.

Barcelona's monetary problems are well known, so much so that La Liga president Javier Tebas commented on the matter earlier this year.

“They have two or three top-class players they can sell. If they sell them, then they can solve a great part of their program. With that, they can generate income that doesn’t generate debt interest and can pay players," he said.

That may mean players like Kounde could be sold, and potentially for a fee below what they would like - opening the door for sides such as Arsenal.

The former Chelsea and Manchester United target joined Barcelona from Sevilla in 2022 for a fee in the region of £42 million ($50m) and has since made 88 appearances in all competitions, scoring three goals along the way. The right-back, who can also play at centre-back, helped Barca win La Liga in 2023.

Kounde - who earlier this season dismissed rumours he wanted to leave Barcelona - is currently representing France at Euro 2024 in Germany, with the 2018 World Cup winners next in action on Monday against Belgium in the last 16 of the competition.