Barcelona snub Serie A star amid rising pressure to fend off Man City

Barcelona’s transfer window is heating up, but not in the way fans might expect.

Despite being offered a chance to sign Inter Milan right-back Denzel Dumfries, the Spanish giants have reportedly decided to pass — choosing instead to focus on protecting one of their own.

Agent Jorge Mendes approached Barcelona with a deal for Dumfries, as per reports (via Calciomercato). The Dutch international, available for €25 million due to a temporary release clause, was once seen as a strong candidate to bolster Barca’s defense.

But with Manchester City lurking around Jules Kounde, the club is tightening its grip on the Frenchman instead.

Dumfries may be a force going forward — with 22 goals and 26 assists in 179 appearances for Inter — but Barcelona aren’t ready to reshuffle their backline just yet.

They apparently trust Kounde, who can play both right-back and center-back, to stay central to their plans for next season.

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Barcelona makes priority call

Time is ticking, though. That €25 million clause in Dumfries’ deal runs out on July 31, meaning any club interested needs to move fast.

But unless there's a twist in the Kounde saga, Barcelona have made their stance clear: no new right-backs are walking through the Camp Nou gates.

Kounde’s current contract runs until 2027, but the club is working to extend it — especially with Pep Guardiola reportedly watching from Manchester.

Losing the versatile defender could force Barcelona into late-market action, but for now, their focus is inward.

For Dumfries, it’s a waiting game. And for Barca, it's all about keeping their backline from turning into a revolving door.

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