Barcelona Transfer News Roundup: Catalans want Jules Kounde stay, Atletico Madrid eyeing Vitor Roque swap deal, and more - June 14, 2024
Barcelona will hope to reclaim their glory days under the tutelage of Hansi Flick. The German manager took charge at Camp Nou at the end of last month following Xavi's departure.
Meanwhile, the Catalans are not planning to offload Jules Kounde this summer. Elsewhere, Atletico Madrid are eyeing a swap deal for Vitor Roque.
On that note, let's look at the major Barcelona transfer stories from June 14, 2024.
Barcelona want Jules Kounde to stay
Barcelona won't listen to offers for Jules Kounde this summer, according to SPORT. The Catalans are in financial distress at the moment and are expected to offload players to raise funds this summer.
It was previously believed that Kounde would face the sack amid rising interest in his services. The La Liga giants are spoilt for choice at the back, with teenage sensation Pau Cubarsi as well as Ronald Araujo considered indispensable.
However, Barcelona are pleased with Kounde's recent efforts and believe his versatility and tenacity could be an asset to Hansi Flick's team. Kounde appeared 48 times across all competitions last season, operating at center-back as well as right-back.
His contract with the Catalans runs until 2027. Recent reports have linked him with Al-Ittihad, while the 25-year-old is also wanted in the Premier League. However, it now appears that the Frenchman is going nowhere this summer.
Atletico Madrid eyeing swap deal for Vitor Roque
Atletico Madrid are plotting a swap deal involving Vitor Roque and Joao Felix, according to SPORT. The Brazilian forward has failed to get going since arriving at Barcelona in January.
Vitor Roque was starved of chances under Xavi, registering two goals from 16 appearances, most of which were from the bench. While the situation could change under Hansi Flick, the player's camp is reportedly considering their options this summer.
Meanwhile, Joao Felix joined the Catalans on loan from Los Rojiblancos last summer and has done a decent job so far. The Portuguese scored ten goals and registered six assists from 44 games across all competitions.
Barcelona would like to keep him permanently at the club but don't have the finances to complete a deal. The 24-year-old also remains keen to continue his stay at Camp Nou, as he has no future at the Civitas Metropolitan Stadium.
Atletico Madrid are now proposing a swap deal that could suit all parties. Hansi Flick wants to assess Roque in pre-season before deciding on his future. However, an exit cannot be ruled out just yet.
Pep Guardiola heaps praise on Ilkay Gundogan
Pep Guardiola has spoken highly of Ilkay Gundogan. The German midfielder left Manchester City last summer to join Barcelona on a Bosman move and has been an instant hit at Camp Nou.
Gundogan registered five goals and 14 assists from 51 games across all competitions and was a first-team regular under Xavi. Despite reports linking him with an exit, the Catalans are expected to hold on to their prized asset this year.
Speaking recently, as cited by Mundo Deportivo, Guardiola paid tribute to Gundogan's intelligence.
“Ilkay didn’t speak a lot, but when he did, everyone listened to him, including me as a coach. He was clear and direct. He is a very intelligent player, one of the smartest I have ever coached. He was the key to our success. I love intelligent players. I only had to explain everything to İlkay once. He understood it and put it into practice immediately. That’s extraordinary,” said Guardiola.
He continued:
“He is best at playing the ball in small, confined spaces. For example, as a number ten, behind the centre-forward. But he also supplies passes to the full-backs. İlkay’s instinct for finding the right moment, his ball control and the precision of his passes: all this is exceptional. I have to add that İlkay himself is a good goal scorer. He can easily score ten to fifteen goals a season.”
Gundogan's contract with the La Liga giants runs until 2025, and Galatasaray are eyeing him with interest this summer.