At a glance
- FC Barcelona are open to offers for Alejandro Balde, Jules Kounde and Ronald Araujo this summer.
- The club isn’t desperate for the sales, but would welcome interesting offers.
- Barca will only sell if the money directly funds squad improvements.
To buy, Barcelona must first sell. And this summer the Catalans might welcome offers for some important players.
The club is open to bids for three first-team defenders this summer but has also made one thing clear. They won’t be selling anyone for below their asking price.
A report from Diario SPORT, suggests that Alejandro Balde, Jules Kounde and Ronald Araujo possess high market values.
Despite having a lot of interest from several top clubs, Barcelona aren’t prepared to let go of any of them for a reduced price.
Hansi Flick is a fan of all three men. But there’s always a price for everyone – especially if the right offer comes in.
Alejandro Balde
Barcelona has set the La Masia graduate’s price tag at a minimum of €50 million. Aston Villa are keen on signing the left back, but they are yet to make any formal offer. It seems like he is no longer among the club’s “untouchables”, as his performances have not lived up to expectation this season.
At that price, selling Balde to a Premier League side like Aston Villa might prove controversial. While he’s a quality player, the Spaniard hasn’t been able to consistently perform this season.
He’s just 22 years old, though, so there’s enough time for him to reach the massive potential shown in the past. But if the money offered is good, Barcelona must look to sell him and perhaps rely on Joao Cancelo instead.
Jules Kounde
Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea have all registered their interest in the player, and it is likely for one of the English giants to make a move for him this summer.
Kounde has made a total of 40 appearances for Barcelona this season. He has only been sidelined for one month due to a hamstring injury.
Kounde is the most sellable player of the three. He’s been on the radar of several top European clubs. The Blaugrana can effectively cover his absence at right back with either Eric Garcia or a new addition to the team.
Barcelona must consider the offer if they’re offered in the range of €60-70 million.
Ronald Araujo
Liverpool and Inter Milan have both shown interest in him but there’s nothing concrete as of yet. Araujo himself has indicated that he isn’t keen on leaving the Spotify Camp Nou. He’s perceived his recent time on the bench as a motivation to improve rather than a sign that he needs to look elsewhere.
The Urugayan’s future is complicated. His price tag has decreased considerably due to his recent performances and the time he he’s spent on the sidelines.
It’s unlikely that Barcelona would get what they demand for him, and his unwillingness to leave makes the deal more difficult to conclude. It appears that unless Barcelona receive a substantial bid, they will be stuck with the centre back, which can’t be deemed entirely negative.
Barcelona’s transfer strategy isn’t out of of desperation
Barcelona hold all the power in this scenario. They aren’t in desperate need to sell any player and they have certainly let other outfits know about this. Whether any team will be willing to meet their valuation in the summer remains to be seen.
