Barca make Lewa offer, want Kounde – sources – Ghana Latest Football News, Live Scores, Results

Barcelona have made a primary provide to Bayern Munich for Robert Lewandowski and would additionally wish to signal Sevilla’s Jules Kounde to bolster their defence, sources have confirmed to ESPN.

Bayern need greater than €40 million for the Polish striker, who has expressed a need to depart, however Barca’s opening bid is just not regarded as that prime.

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Lewandowski, 33, is out of contract in 2023 however the German membership’s public stance remains to be that he’ll see out the ultimate 12 months of his contract.

“The state of affairs hasn’t modified,” Bayern CEO Oliver Kahn mentioned on the presentation of Sadio Mane on Wednesday, who joined from Liverpool for a payment rising to €42m.

“Robert has a contract with us for one more 12 months and we anticipate to see him on the primary day of pre-season in July,” Kahn added.

Sources say the connection between Barca and Bayern has soured because of the battle that arose across the failed launch of the European Tremendous League, which Bayern weren’t concerned in.

At a dinner earlier than a Champions League assembly between the 2 sides final season, Kahn informed Barca executives precisely what the German membership thought of their push to kind a breakaway competitors.

Bayern have additionally privately and publicly questioned Barca’s means to do a deal of this dimension of their present monetary plight.

“Barcelona need to signal Lewandowski after they had a debt of €1.3 billion six months in the past,” former president Uli Hoeness mentioned just lately.

“In Germany, they’d have been bankrupt for a very long time. The chapter choose is on the door and they’re making million euro affords for a Bayern participant.”

Bayern Munich gained Bundesliga titles in every of Robert Lewandowski’s eight years on the membership. PressFocus/MB Media

Lewandowski, who’s at present on vacation in Mallorca, has mentioned a number of instances he needs to depart Bayern after eight years on the membership, hinting strongly that he wish to be a part of Barca.

In the meantime, Barcelona are additionally exploring a transfer for Sevilla defender Jules Kounde, with sources explaining that coach Xavi has made the arrival of a high centre-back a precedence this summer season.

Chelsea additionally preserve an curiosity in Kounde, who’s valued at round €60m by Sevilla, having didn’t prise him away from Spain final summer season.

Barca and Chelsea are additionally concerned in a tug-of-war over defenders Cesar Azpilicueta and Marcos Alonso, with the Blaugrana concentrating on the 2 Spain internationals.

They each have one 12 months to run on their contracts at Stamford Bridge, with Chelsea unlikely to allow them to make the transfer to Camp Nou cheaply.

Within the instances of Lewandowski and Kounde, Barca are enjoying for time as they should elevate capital earlier than making any extra signings this summer season.

The Catalan membership are unable to register any new signings.

As issues stand, attributable to their LaLiga wage cap standing at -€144m, they can’t even inscribe Andreas Christensen and Franck Kessie, who will each arrive on free transfers subsequent month.

Nonetheless, Barca are hopeful they’ll be capable to fund the offers and register new signings this summer season by promoting off merchandising and tv rights.

Membership members final week authorised the gross sales of 49.9% of Barça Licensing and Merchandising and 25% of their tv rights from LaLiga for the subsequent 25 years.

President Joan Laporta says the 2 offers ought to usher in round €700m and talking this week mentioned he expects the tv rights to be vended earlier than June 30.

If Barca do not promote them earlier than June 30, they danger ending the monetary 12 months with losses, which might additional hamstring the Catalan membership’s endeavours to get Xavi the gamers he needs.

Elsewhere, they proceed to hit brick partitions of their makes an attempt to lighten the squad to make room for any new arrivals.

Xavi has communicated to a number of gamers that they aren’t a part of his plans however sources on the membership say there may be concern as a result of nobody needs to depart.

Neto, Riqui Puig, Samuel Umtiti and Martin Braithwaite are among the many gamers Barca wish to transfer on within the switch window, amongst others.

Supply: espn.co.uk