Former Schalke defender Joel Matip, who will turn 33 this August, is out for the season due to a cruciate ligament tear. Furthermore, his contract expires at the end of the season, and he is likely to leave the club on a free transfer without renewing his contract.
With a vacancy in the final line, they have set their sights on a new center back, and since last summer they have continued to show interest in the left-handed defender. Young European players such as Sporting defender Goncalo Inácio are on the list.
According to Sport, Liverpool and Manchester United have expressed interest in Barcelona’s French defender Jules Koundé, and the two Premier League clubs are likely to engage in a fierce battle.
The 25-year-old defender, who moved to Barcelona from Sevilla in the summer of 2022, has played center back and right back and has started the majority of games this season. He has also made 24 appearances for the French national team and has extensive experience in the Champions League.
With a contract remaining until 2027, any club looking to sign him would need to spend a huge transfer fee. However, Barcelona is facing financial woes, and the money-hungry club may be willing to allow him to leave for more than £51 million.
However, with a regular class of players such as Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk, it is not realistic for Liverpool to acquire a center back for more than £51 million. And since Joe Gomez can operate as a dual-sided back, a left-handed center back would be the top priority, as originally planned.
The French defender has developed into a world-class player in La Liga, but will he have a future in the Premier League, the top league in the world, for the first time…?