Real Madrid reportedly view Jules Kounde as a long-term replacement for Raphael Varane, who could leave the club this coming summer.
According to a report by Spanish outlet Fichajes, Jules Kounde is the subject of interest from Real Madrid over a move in the summer transfer window. The 22-year-old French defender is being considered as a long-term replacement for Raphael Varane, who faces an uncertain future at the club.
Kounde has gone on to establish himself as one of the best defenders on show in La Liga since joining Sevilla from Bordeaux in the summer of 2019. Less than two years since arriving in Spain, the youngster is a mainstay at the back for Los Nervionenses, and has turned out 80 times for the La Liga outfit.
The player’s progress has not gone unnoticed either, with a number of top clubs across Europe setting their sights on him. The likes of Arsenal, Manchester United and Barcelona have all been previously linked with the 22-year-old, who is also featuring on the radar of Real Madrid over a possible move in the summer transfer window.
Real Madrid currently find themselves in a precarious position over the futures of captain Sergio Ramos as well as defensive mainstay Raphael Varane. While Ramos’s current deal runs out this summer, Varane has a little over a year left on his contract and could be set to leave the club in the summer transfer window, with Liverpool and Manchester United linked with a potential swoop.
There have been suggestions that Real Madrid would prefer cashing in on Varane immediately instead of waiting to see if he commits his future if he has not penned a renewal by the time the summer transfer window opens. And, with that in mind, it is prudent for Los Blancos to identify potential replacement options as well.
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To that end, Kounde is a viable target for the Merengues to pursue, with the report suggesting that the defending La Liga champions could fund a move for the 22-year-old from the transfer fee procured by the sale of Varane. Having said that, it will be interesting to see if Varane ends up signing a new deal with Real Madrid, or if they are forced into the market for a replacement.
