FC Barcelona have put an €80 million ($87 million) price tag on one of their star players, according to El Nacional.
After this had been done, Barca tabled a €50 million ($54 million) offer to the Andalusians and that was that.
Kounde was immediately integrated into first team coach Xavi Hernandez’s squad – although not in his preferred position of center back.
Still, he played an integral role in a stingy back line that conceded the least goals in Europe’s top five leagues and helped the Blaugrana achieve a first La Liga title under Xavi and a maiden Spanish top flight crown in four years.
Towards the end of the season, however, Relevo reported that Kounde told Xavi he would be open to listening to offers from other clubs wishing to buy him, though the player later denied this.
Less than a month after that hiccup, El Nacional reports how president Joan Laporta has decided to put Kounde on the market for €80 million which would allow the club to recoup their outlay on him and also spin a profit.
Barca might feel as though they have ample cover in central defense with other incoming options such as Inigo Martinez and highly-rated, 18-year-old Senegalese wonderkid Mikayil Faye for whom they have agreed a €5 million ($5.4 million) fee according to Fabrizio Romano.
Clubs that have previously been interested in capturing Kounde include Chelsea and their northwestern England rivals Liverpool.
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