OFFICIAL: Arsenal confirm A big name signing in a bid worth over €70 million after several bid was rejected” report..
The 25-year-old participated in 35 of Barcelona’s 38 La Liga games last season, providing Xavi Hernandez’s backline with consistent play. He was included in Didier Deschamps’ French squad for Euro 2024 as a result of his efforts, and he has played in all three of the team’s games thus far. Jijantes claims that Barcelona wants to bolster their roster for the upcoming campaign by bringing in some elite players this summer. The Blaugrana will need to sell a number of players to raise money for transfers, and Kounde is one of the players they hope to make a profit on.
According to the report, Arsenal has communicated with the Catalan powerhouses to indicate their want to buy the Frenchman in the summer. If the Gunners can entice Kounde to the Emirates, his €45 million (£38 million) transfer assessment by Transfermarkt could prove to be a steal. Kounde’s contract with Barcelona expires in the summer of 2027.
Kounde to Arsenal: As with Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, Arsenal’s head coach Mikel Arteta has frequently employed the inversion of fullbacks in his backline. The Ukrainian, who frequently tucks into midfield to initiate play, has been a major proponent of this system; however, his defensive shortcomings have seen him fall down the hierarchy.
Ben White has proven to be Arteta’s most reliable fullback and has greatly improved in his defensive skills since joining the Gunners.
Kounde satisfies every requirement for an inverted fullback archetype. He is a dependable defensive specialist who can also burrow into the midfield to start plays and join the attack to make crosses. Because of his versatility, the Frenchman can also play at his natural position of center back, which makes him a fantastic backup for William Saliba.
Arteta would have the talent and depth in his squad that Kounde would provide, enabling him to contend for the Premier League title the following year. When Arsenal plays Wolverhampton Wanderers on August 17 at the Emirates Stadium to begin their 2024–25 Premier League campaign, they will be hoping that they have adequate depth in their roster.
