Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is looking for a replacement for Kyle Walker and is interested in signing Kounde. The 26-year-old France international has been a key player for Barcelona, but the club wants to keep him on a new contract. Dumfries, on the other hand, played a crucial role for Inter Milan last season, scoring 11 goals and providing five assists in 47 games across all competitions.

Barcelona's decision to stop pursuing Dumfries means that Inter Milan will likely retain their right-back. The club had a €25 million release clause in Dumfries' contract, which had been offered to Barcelona by Mendes. However, the Spanish club has now decided to prioritize keeping Kounde, who is a vital part of their team.