Man City suffer fresh transfer blow as possible Kyle Walker replacement ‘agrees’ new Barcelona contract

Barcelona defender Jules Kounde has reportedly agreed a brand new long-term contract at Camp Nou, forcing Manchester Metropolis to look elsewhere of their pursuit of a brand new right-back.

The 26-year-old has slowly however absolutely come into his personal in Catalonia since signing from Sevilla in the summertime of 2022, snubbing curiosity from Chelsea to hyperlink up with the reigning Spanish champions.

Kounde initially earned plaudits for his feats as a central defender, however the France worldwide has since change into Barcelona’s first-choice right-back, making 141 appearances for La Blaugrana in all tournaments.

Kounde has scored seven objectives and arrange 18 extra for Barca in that point, and he began 29 La Liga matches throughout the membership’s run to title glory final season, earlier than sustaining a campaign-ending hamstring harm.

The versatile defender entered the ultimate two years of his contract with Hansi Flick’s aspect earlier this summer time, and Man Metropolis have been rumoured to have added him to their shortlist of potential Kyle Walker successors.

Man Metropolis-linked Kounde to signal new Barca deal ‘subsequent week’

Nevertheless, journalist Fabrice Hawkins now reviews that Barcelona and Kounde have come to an settlement over a brand new contract, and the Frenchman will lengthen his phrases by one other three years till the summer time of 2030.

Despite the fact that Man Metropolis had expressed an curiosity within the former Sevilla man, his first precedence was to increase his Barcelona contract, and Fabrizio Romano provides that the formal steps will quickly comply with.

In an additional replace, the Italian journalist revealed that Kounde ought to signal his new Barcelona phrases subsequent week, and his renewal will maintain him on the membership till simply earlier than his thirty second birthday.

Kounde got here by way of the youth system at Bordeaux earlier than becoming a member of Sevilla for £30.6m in the summertime of 2019, three years earlier than Barcelona paid £43.7m to safe his providers.

What different Walker replacements can Man Metropolis goal?

Kounde would have been an bold acquisition for Man Metropolis, however whereas the Residents have been believed to been preserving tabs on his scenario, he was by no means thought-about a chief goal.

Nevertheless, the door has been opened for Man Metropolis to make a transfer for Crystal Palace’s Daniel Munoz, who has revealed that he’s open to leaving the Eagles regardless of solely simply signing a brand new deal at Selhurst Park.

Newcastle United’s Tino Livramento has lengthy been linked with a transfer to the Etihad too, though it’s understood that Man Metropolis don’t have any plans to make a proper strategy for the previous Chelsea and Southampton expertise.

With no concrete talks happening with any targets in the meanwhile, Pep Guardiola is ready to have Rico Lewis and Matheus Nunes as his right-back choices for Metropolis’s Premier League opener towards Wolverhampton Wanderers on August 16.

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