Barcelona receive €80 million offer for defensive mainstay from Chelsea – report | OneFootball

Barcelona are gearing up for a busy summer ahead, where the club are expected to not only bring in new players but also rely heavily on player sales in order to regain economic stability.

While the likes of Andreas Christensen and Ansu Fati have been understandably linked with exits, Barcelona may also face pressure to keep hold of their star players.

One of the first-team stars in contention to potentially leave the club is Jules Kounde, with Chelsea keen on his services.

Chelsea ready to break the bank for Kounde

According to Fichajes, Chelsea are determined to get their hands on Kounde, as part of their plans to shore up their defence in the coming summer.

In fact, the Premier League giants have tabled an astonishing €80 million offer for the French international, which might even tempt Barcelona to rethink their strategies.

The report adds that Chelsea are keen on signing a versatile centre-back with international experience. Kounde, to that end, fits the bill perfectly.

Jules Kounde had a tough night in Dortmund (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)

While the former Sevilla starlet has been an ever-present figure in the Barcelona lineup this season, an offer of €80 million could make heads turn in Catalonia.

Will Barcelona sell Kounde?

It must be noted that Barça signed Kounde for €50 million, so a potential sale of €80 million could result in a profit for the Catalans.

But more importantly, it will go a long way in aiding the club’s financial situation and balance sheet, which is wrought by an inflated wage bill.

That said, Barcelona do have other first-team stars they can consider selling in order to generate revenue.

One of them is Ronald Araujo, whose performance against Borussia Dortmund at Signal Iduna Park was quite concerning and unbecoming of a great defender.

The sale of other defenders such as Christensen could also be on the cards as Barcelona rethink their defensive strategies heading into the summer.