Barcelona is facing a state of anticipation regarding the future of their French defender Jules Koundé, amid increasing interest from several major European clubs looking to sign him in the upcoming period, according to the Spanish newspaper "Mundo Deportivo."

The newspaper explained that Koundé, who renewed his contract with Barcelona until 2030, is considered one of the key pillars in coach Hans Flick's formation, as he is consistently relied upon in the right-back position. This is despite having previously attracted interest from major clubs, most notably Manchester City, which inquired about his status without making an official offer.

The same source added that interest in Koundé has not ceased, as Liverpool, Manchester City, and Chelsea are closely monitoring the player's situation, given these clubs' need to strengthen their defense. This puts Barcelona's management on alert in anticipation of receiving official offers.

Despite Barcelona's insistence on keeping the player, the newspaper indicated that his performance this season has not been as consistent as it was last season, when he shone and contributed to the team's victory in the King's Cup by scoring a decisive goal against Real Madrid. This season, however, he has experienced some inconsistency, in addition to a muscle injury that sidelined him from several important matches, including those in the UEFA Champions League and La Liga.

In a related context, the newspaper confirmed that Barcelona is considering all possible scenarios, as they prefer to retain Koundé to avoid creating a gap in the full-back position. However, at the same time, they might have to consider any substantial financial offer, especially given the difficulty of improving the player's salary again after his contract was recently renewed.

The Spanish newspaper also pointed out that the club has alternatives within the team, such as Eric Garcia, Xavi Espart, and Ronald Araujo, in addition to the possibility of retaining Joao Cancelo, who is on loan from Al Hilal and is adept at playing on both flanks.

The report confirmed that Kounde's future will remain tied to developments in the transfer market, especially if current interests turn into official offers, as Liverpool's offer could reach 80 million euros, a figure hard to ignore. Meanwhile, Barcelona is looking to strengthen its squad with a top-tier striker and central defender, with names like Julian Alvarez and Alessandro Bastoni among its priorities.