Flick blocks January exit for Barcelona defender Jules Kounde

Barcelona are not keen to part company with defender Jules Kounde, despite reports that the France international could leave the club in January.

The 27-year-old has lost his place in Barcelona’s starting line-up, prompting speculation that he could be sold during the winter transfer window. However, according to TEAMtalk, head coach Hansi Flick does not support the idea of Kounde leaving.

Kounde is also not pushing for an exit, with various sources having previously reported that the player would prefer to remain at Barcelona.

Chelsea are among the clubs interested in signing Kounde, who is valued at 55m euros by Transfermarkt. The three-time champion of Spain has a contract with Barcelona running until the middle of 2030.

Daraja Kapoor

Daraja Kapoor is a highly respected football journalist, editor and analyst, known for his compelling storytelling and sharp, data-driven insights into the game. He specialises in match analysis, features, emerging talent coverage and football trends across Africa.He holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Cape Coast and has built a strong reputation in the media industry through his disciplined approach and deep understanding of football.Daraja received his journalistic training at leading news platform Ghanaguardian.com and has worked with some of the most prominent football websites in Ghana, including Footballmadeinghana.com and Ghanasoccernet.com. He also served as Sports Editor of Talysports.com, where he played a key role in shaping editorial direction and content strategy.He is currently the Managing Editor of African.Football, where he leads the platform’s editorial vision, overseeing content production, quality control and the delivery of authoritative African football coverage to a global audience.

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