Barcelona are determined to strengthen their defence this summer transfer window according to Mundo Deportivo and have identified two centre-backs that they believe would help them to achieve that goal – Jules Kounde and Kalidou Koulibaly.
The club already have the signature of Chelsea defender Andreas Christensen secured although it has not yet been made official. He will join Barcelona on a free transfer this summer.
But it will be difficult to land the signature of Kounde and Koulibaly, of Sevilla and Napoli respectively. Both players are on the market this close-season but have no shortage of suitors in La Liga, Serie A and, of course, the Premier League.
Chelsea and Newcastle United are both keen on Kounde, who is expected to leave the Sanchez-Pizjuan this summer for a fee in the region of €65m. Koulibaly is entering the final year of his contract at the Diego Armando Maradona and is thought to command a similar fee. Juventus, Paris Saint-Germain, Internazionale, Roma, Aston Villa and Newcastle are interested.
