Bayern Munich target Jules Kounde for January move

Bayern Munich have identified Barcelona defender Jules Kounde as a potential target for the January transfer window.

The French international has reportedly attracted attention from the Bundesliga champions after losing some of his prominence in Barcelona's starting lineup. Kounde has started only three of the club's first seven matches this season, with Eric Garcia increasingly featuring in Hansi Flick's plans.

Kounde has been used primarily as a right-back in recent seasons, although Flick has also deployed him at centre-back this campaign. His contract with Barcelona runs until June 2030.

According to reports from Spain, Bayern have placed the 27-year-old high on their list of potential January targets. However, there have been no direct talks between the two clubs at this stage.

Barcelona are reportedly demanding around €75 million for Kounde, which could make a January deal difficult. Bayern could look to raise funds by selling Kim Min-jae, with reports suggesting a potential fee of around €30 million for the South Korean defender.

Any decision from Barcelona would also depend on their own plans for the winter window. The Catalan club are expected to consider defensive reinforcements, particularly at left centre-back, before deciding whether they can afford to let Kounde leave.

For now, Bayern's interest remains at the monitoring stage, with no agreement or negotiations in place.