In the pursuit of what is believed to be FC Bayern's winter target Jules Kounde from Barcelona, the Bavarian club faces apparent high-profile competition.

According to transfer expert Ekrem Konur, Chelsea FC and Liverpool FC, along with other clubs from the English Premier League, have also set their sights on the 27-year-old Frenchman.

Previously, El Nacional reported that Barcelona is demanding a transfer fee of 50 million euros for Kounde. For Bayern Munich, this would represent a new record transfer sum for a January deal.

To date, Sacha Boey holds this record. For Kounde's French compatriot, who, like the still-Barcelona player, is primarily at home on the right side of defense, Bayern paid a substantial 30 million euros to Galatasaray in January 2024.

For Kounde, an additional 20 million euros would now be required—a sum that would present a significantly smaller problem for the financially strong English clubs than for Bayern Munich.

The Spanish publication Sport and Konur had previously reported in agreement about Bayern Munich's interest in Kounde. According to their reports, the right-back is the primary target for the squad planners at Säbener Straße for the upcoming transfer window.

Bayern Munich: Million-euro plan for Kounde deal?

Bayern Munich is said to already have a plan for how to finance Kounde's signing.

According to this plan, the club would first sell centre-back Min-jae Kim for approximately 40 million euros and simultaneously save his salary of eight million euros per year.

Should Liverpool, Chelsea and others now enter the Kounde bidding war, this would likely diminish Bayern Munich's chances.

Kounde is believed to be considering a departure from Barcelona due to his limited playing time under manager Hansi Flick.

At Bayern Munich, he would compete for the starting position on the right side of the back four with Josip Stanisic and Konrad Laimer. The Austrian, however, can also play in midfield.

Boey no longer features in Bayern Munich's plans and is expected to leave the club in the winter transfer window.