Liverpool have been linked with a move for Barcelona and France right-back Jules Kounde, and they could now sign him for less than has been reported.
Right-back feels like a problem position for the Reds currently, with the void left by Trent Alexander-Arnold last year not yet properly filled.
Conor Bradley is an excellent young player, but injuries are becoming a cause for concern now, not least the serious knee issue he is currently recovering from, likely keeping him out of action well into next season.
Meanwhile, Jeremie Frimpong had a disappointing first season in a Liverpool shirt, admittedly not being used in the preferred wing-back role that he thrived in at Bayer Leverkusen.
Kounde has been mentioned as an option for Liverpool in the recent past, and now TEAMtalk report that Liverpool “appreciate” him, adding that “there’s a chance” that he moves to Anfield this summer.
His rumoured price tag of £43m is believed to be “lower than has been quoted in the past”, meaning the Reds could snap him up on the cheap.
Jules Kounde: One of Europe’s most dependable full-backs
Kounde is such an impressive and unruffled footballer, rarely making the headlines for France or Barcelona, but proving to be a model of consistency.
He is extremely solid defensively, also offering attacking thrust when needed, with Barca manager Hansi Flick showing his appreciation for him last season:
“Jules is a fighter. He’s always focused. We’re all human, and sometimes you don’t have your best day, but he’s always fighting. Even when things don’t start well. I appreciate what he’s doing. He has a top-notch mentality. He’ll show that tomorrow. It will be a tough match for everyone. I like what I see from Atlético, with a clear philosophy.”
At 27, Kounde is right in the middle of his peak years, and that shouldn’t change for a while, so Liverpool should see him as a brilliant choice to come in and ease their right-back woes.
He is a proven player at the top level, starting for France at the 2026 World Cup and having a great chance of winning the competition, and he would sure up the Reds’ defence under Andoni Iraola.
