Arsenal willing to bid €65m for 26-year-old Barcelona player despite hefty release clause – Report | OneFootball

FC Barcelona played their last league match against RCD Mallorca and Hansi Flick made several changes in his starting lineup for this game, keeping in view the upcoming Copa del Rey final against Real Madrid on Saturday.

One of the most surprising of these changes was starting Eric Garcia in place of Jules Kounde at the right-back position. This decision brought an end to the Frenchman’s 104-game streak in which he had not missed a single game for club and country.

While this streak has now ended, this figure shows the incredible importance that the French defender has enjoyed since his move to Barcelona. He has been a regular starter for both Xavi Hernandez and Hansi Flick, and is the player with the highest number of minutes played for the Blaugrana team this season.

His performances are also attracting the attention of other top clubs across Europe, and he has recently been linked with some Premier League teams in particular.

Arsenal has been one such team, and according to Mundo Deportivo, the Gunners are now preparing a €65 million offer to convince the defender to join them.

Despite this strong interest from the Premier League side, the Catalans remain calm about the Frenchman’s situation. His contract with Barcelona goes till 2027 and he has a €1 billion release clause, which means Arsenal will have to negotiate with the Blaugranes if they want to sign the defender.

Meanwhile, the Azulgrana club is also trying to secure the future of Kounde in their team, as they see him as a part of their long-term project.

In addition to Arsenal, Chelsea has been another club that has shown an interest in the French defender. But it needs to be kept in mind that such links are usual for high-profile players when negotiations are underway for a renewal.