Barcelona are primed to continue their heavy reinforcement directive this summer at the Camp Nou under Xavi after the Catalan outfit has reached a verbal agreement with fellow La Liga side Sevilla for French international centre-back Jules Koundé.
Per a fresh update from transfer insider Fabrizio Romano, Barça is finally on the verge of ending the long-lasting uncertainty surrounding Koundé’s future amid serious interest from Premier League giants Chelsea at the behest of manager Thomas Tuchel.
Jules Koundé to Barcelona, here we go! Verbal agreement now in place with Sevilla after the long saga and further negotiations today, waiting to get it signed soon. 🚨🔵🔴 #FCB
Jules Koundé agreed personal terms with Barça last weekend, contract ready. Xavi, key factor again. pic.twitter.com/eX2jeVPheF
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 27, 2022
With personal terms already agreed between Koundé and Barça, the 23-year-old French international and former Girondins de Bordeaux academy graduate will be the fifth big signing in the door in Catalunya this summer as La Blaugrana is intent on closing the gap to bitter rivals Real Madrid after the capital outfit topped the table last season and won their 35th league title.
Barça already secured the services of Polish international star Robert Lewandowski after the former Bayern Munich star failed to come to terms with the Bavarians over a new deal, and will undoubtedly replace Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang as the headline striker under Xavi in 2022-23.
Budding Brazilian international winger Raphinha also joined the club from Premier League underachievers Leeds United, opting to – like Koundé – join the Xavi revolution rather than head to Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea were hit hard once again after Danish international Andreas Christensen chose to leave west London on a free transfer and ship himself to the east coast of Spain, and another free deal for Ivorian midfield fulcrum Franck Kessié rounded out the impressive business that has already taken place.
Though questions remain whether or not Barça will be able to retain the services of Dutch midfield star Frenkie de Jong amid – you guessed it – interest from Chelsea, the business conducted by the club is good enough, at least on paper, to push the club in direct competition with Real once again for top honors in 2022-23.
