Jules Kounde has been solid at right-back for Barcelona this season. However, he has shown his prowess as a centre-back time and time again and deploying him in his natural position would boost the side’s dominance on the field.
It was thus the Catalans’ top priority to sign a right-back heading into the next season. Names like Juan Foyth and Joao Cancelo were considered with Thomas Meunier being a reportedly serious candidate.
According to reports from Luis Rojo, however, the situation has changed. The Blaugranas no longer plan on signing a right-back in June as the operation is not working out to be financially feasible with the FFP.
The primary reason for such a concern is the heavily inflated market for young talents, especially, young full-backs.
A recollection of Malo Gusto, a former Barcelona target for the right-back, gives a clear picture of the situation.
The teenage right-back was one of the most promising names on the market and was pipped to make the jump to a top side. Chelsea eventually signed him midseason at a premium to avoid a bidding war in the summer and shelled out €35 million for the 19-year-old.
Such large figures would not sit well on the club’s already precarious finances, especially given that they would still need to sign a striker and a midfielder at least in June.
Villarreal demand €54 million for their star Juan Foyth. The number gets significantly higher for an established star like Cancelo.
Joan Laporta instead aims to invest the same resources and sign a winger, a striker, a defensive midfielder and an interior in addition to a centre-back like Inigo Martinez come the summer transfer window. Only time will tell whether the Spanish giants’ gamble at right-back pays off or not.
