Arsenal Target £85m Kofane as Kounde Emerges as Defensive Option

Arsenal have just over a week before their Premier League title defence kicks off against Coventry City, with Sunday’s Community Shield against Manchester City the immediate fixture on the horizon. Mikel Arteta is still active in the transfer market as the window approaches its close.

The Gunners secured a major signing in Bruno Guimaraes from Newcastle United for £75 million, making the midfielder the fourth senior arrival of the summer alongside Piero Hincapie, Christos Tzolis, and Illan Meslier. Attention may now turn to Barcelona for defensive cover, while an £85m-rated forward has addressed speculation linking him to north London.

Kounde Identified as Cover Option

Arsenal have pursued defensive reinforcements throughout the summer without success. William Saliba’s absence for an extended period leaves a significant gap in Arteta’s backline ahead of the new campaign.

The club held interest in Aston Villa‘s Ezri Konsa but are now reported to be monitoring Barcelona’s Jules Kounde, provided the France international shows willingness to leave the Catalan club, according to Spanish outlet Sport. Arsenal are seeking a centre-back capable of covering the right side of defence. Kounde, 27, fits that profile precisely — he operated in central defence at Sevilla before transitioning to right-back at Barcelona, a role he also occupies at international level. The Frenchman is considered more cost-effective than Konsa, whom Arsenal have been quoted £60m for. Kounde reported for pre-season training in Spain and was a key contributor to Barca’s back-to-back title wins.

Read also: Arsenal Set to Bid for Jules Kounde Amid Bayern Munich and PSG Competition

Kofane Open to Premier League Move

Bayer Leverkusen forward Christian Kofane has confirmed he would welcome a move to England at some point. The 20-year-old registered seven goals and nine assists across 44 appearances in his debut Bundesliga season.

Kofane faced Arsenal in the Champions League round of 16 last season, catching the eye across both legs despite his side’s elimination. His agent, Eric Depolo, suggested those performances prompted genuine Arsenal interest, but warned any club would need to pay £85m to sign him.

“Yes, Arsenal’s interest is genuine. The manager likes him very much. I think it is too early to say which club is leading the race. But due to the fact that the player speaks Spanish, like Mikel Arteta, and that William Saliba is originally from Cameroon, I would say Arsenal are in pole position.” — Eric Depolo

“He is a €100 million (£85m) player. With Kofane, Arsenal will have a top striker for the next 10 years.” — Eric Depolo

Kofane himself was measured when addressing a potential switch, telling Kicker:

“I can certainly imagine it, yes. It’s one of the best leagues in the world. But I want to take it step by step. I’m young and still have big plans with Bayer Leverkusen.” — Christian Kofane

With defensive cover still unresolved and a high-profile forward on the radar, Arsenal’s final weeks of the window carry considerable weight. Follow TipsGG for full coverage of every development as the deadline approaches.