Bayern Munich have made initial enquiries about FC Barcelona star Jules Kounde, contacting the French defender’s representatives to assess his current situation and determine whether he would be open to a future move.

While reports in Germany had suggested interest from the Bavarians over the weekend, SPORT now confirms from sources close to the situation, the Bundesliga champions have recently sought information regarding Kounde’s contractual status and long-term intentions.

Barcelona’s position on Kounde

Although Kounde remains an important member of Hansi Flick’s squad, he is not considered untouchable.

After establishing himself as one of the world’s best right-backs last season, the French international has struggled to maintain the same level of consistency throughout the current campaign.

While he has continued to produce strong performances, Barcelona believe occasional lapses in concentration have proved costly in several matches.

However, his impressive performances at the World Cup have once again reminded Europe’s elite of his quality.

The player’s priority

Despite Bayern’s interest, those close to Kounde insist his focus remains firmly on Barcelona.

The 27-year-old has no plans to leave the club this summer and is determined to regain the consistently outstanding form that made him one of Europe’s premier defenders.

While the transfer market can always produce unexpected developments, his current intention is to continue wearing the Barcelona shirt.

Bayern’s interest in Kounde comes hardly as a surprise. The Frenchman remains one of the most highly regarded full-backs in European football and only recently committed his future to Barcelona by signing a contract extension until 2030.

The renewal came after sustained interest from Manchester City, where Pep Guardiola was eager to bring him to the Etihad Stadium.

Barcelona responded by extending Kounde’s deal while improving his contractual terms, reinforcing their confidence in the defender.

World Cup revival

Although Barcelona acknowledge that Kounde has alternated excellent displays with occasional inconsistent performances in the season gone by, there has never been any doubt about his ability.

His World Cup campaign has once again highlighted the level he can reach when performing at his best.

France manager Didier Deschamps has made him an undisputed starter, with Kounde playing almost the entirety of the national team’s minutes during the tournament.

Alongside central defenders William Saliba and Dayot Upamecano, he has formed one of the competition’s most reliable defensive units, helping France establish itself among the strongest defensive teams in the tournament.

Bayern monitoring the situation

For now, Bayern’s interest has gone no further than exploratory conversations. The German champions have gathered information about Kounde’s contractual situation and, more importantly, whether he would be receptive to joining the Bavarian side in the future.

At this stage, however, the answer appears unchanged. Kounde’s priority remains Barcelona. He wants to continue developing under Flick and sees his long-term future at the Catalan club despite growing interest from elsewhere in Europe.