Barcelona defender’s agent visits club facilities amid growing Arsenal interest

Barcelona defender’s agent visits club facilities amid growing Arsenal interest With the transfer window entering its final stages Jules Kounde’s future at FC Barcelona is starting to become uncertain. Now, According to Jijantes (h/t SPORT ), Jonathan Kebe, the French defender’s agent, visited the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper on Wednesday afternoon. Kebe was at Barcelona’s training facilities during the afternoon. His visit comes at a particularly sensitive moment, with Kounde’s name increasingly being linked with Arsenal. The agent’s visit does not mean that negotiations are underway or that the player is close to leaving Barcelona. However, his presence at the training ground adds even more intrigue to a situation the Catalan club is monitoring closely. Arsenal watching closely As previously reported , Kounde’s future at Barcelona is not completely secure and Arsenal had begun monitoring his situation closely. On Arsenal’s radar. (Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images) The Premier League champions are looking for a top-level defender capable of playing both centre-back and right-back, a profile that fits the Frenchman perfectly. Mikel Arteta is an admirer of the player and believes his versatility could be particularly useful to his project. The English giants’ primary target had been Ezri Konsa, but Aston Villa’s demands, in excess of €75 million, have cooled that possibility. In this scenario, Kounde could become a top-level alternative. Barcelona waiting on Flick’s decision With Arsenal’s interest growing, how the situation unfolds will also depend on Barça manager Hansi Flick’s assessment. Will Kounde stay or leave? (Photo by Eric Alonso/Getty Images) Kounde has been an important player since joining Barcelona, but the German coach has introduced changes in defense and has other options for the right-back position. Eric Garcia is one of them, while youngster Xavi Espart has also impressed during pre-season. That is why Barcelona are not closing any doors. If Arsenal were to put forward a significant offer, the La Liga champions would consider accepting his departure and using a substantial portion of the proceeds to strengthen the centre of defence. For now, the situation remains open. His agent’s visit to the Ciutat Esportiva comes as Arsenal continue to monitor the situation, while Kounde must decide whether he wants to remain in Barcelona or listen to other proposals. To a large extent, the ball is now in the player’s court.