Barcelona have reportedly dropped their pursuit of Inter Milan full-back Denzel Dumfries to shift full attention toward securing the future of Jules Koundé, as Manchester City intensify efforts to sign the French defender.
Koundé, who is of Beninese descent, has emerged as a key figure in Barcelona’s defensive setup since joining from Sevilla in 2022.
The Catalan club is now focused on extending his contract amid strong interest from Premier League champions Manchester City, with Pep Guardiola eyeing the 26-year-old as a long-term replacement for Kyle Walker.
According to Calciomercato, Dumfries was offered to Barcelona by his agent Jorge Mendes during the summer transfer window.
The Dutch defender reportedly has a €25 million release clause in his Inter contract and had attracted attention from several top European sides following a strong 2024/25 campaign, where he tallied 11 goals and five assists in 47 appearances as Inter reached the UEFA Champions League final.
Barcelona had shown initial interest in acquiring Dumfries, but with mounting pressure from City over Koundé, they have decided to reinforce their position around the French international instead.
Club officials are said to view Koundé as central to their long-term defensive structure and are keen to ward off any advances from England.
Guardiola, meanwhile, is pushing to strengthen his defensive line and sees Koundé’s versatility and composure on the ball as a natural fit for his system.
The situation sets up a potential transfer tussle, though Barcelona’s current stance suggests they are determined to keep the Beninese-French defender at the Camp Nou.
With Koundé contracted until 2027, Barcelona’s hand remains strong — but the coming weeks will be crucial as Manchester City weigh a formal bid.
