I’ve done some digging and thought it was important to clarify one or two of the Barcelona transfer rumours we’ve been hearing in the last week or so.

First up, it remains my understanding that the Catalan giants are under pressure to make some sales this January. As I previously reported, intermediaries have been sounding out potential suitors for both Alejandro Balde and Frenkie de Jong, but that’s not all.

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We can also add Jules Kounde to that list. I’ve previously been informed about Chelsea having a strong interest in the France international, but this did not lead to anything concrete in the summer.

It’s possible that the Blues explored this one but decided to focus on other options. It’s also my understanding that one key factor to keep in mind here is that Kounde, like Balde, is not desperate to leave Barca. It’s on the club’s side that some cutbacks need to be made, and they’re open to letting someone like Kounde go for the right price.

Dani Olmo applauds the Barcelona fans (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)