Real Madrid have reportedly made an offer of €50 million for Jules Kounde, but Sevilla are holding out for his release clause amount of €80 million.
According to a report from Spanish outlet ABC, Real Madrid have firmed up their interest in Sevilla defender Jules Kounde by making an opening offer of €50 million for the Frenchman, but their La Liga rivals are demanding €80 million.
Kounde, having come through the youth ranks at French club Bordeaux, made the switch to Sevilla in the summer of 2019 and has since grown into one of the best young centre-backs in Europe. The 22-year-old played an integral role in Julen Lopetegui’s side winning the UEFA Europa League in his debut season and followed it up with another solid campaign in 2020/21 to help seal a top-four finish in La Liga.
Kounde’s rapid development over the past couple of seasons in Seville have now put him on the radars of several top clubs such as Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur, among others, with Real Madrid also throwing their hat in the ring for the Frenchman, who is currently away on international duty at the UEFA Euro 2020.
Real Madrid are facing a summer of reckoning with Carlo Ancelotti back at the helm of affairs. The Spanish capital club are already losing captain and icon Sergio Ramos, who will be leaving the club at the end of this month when his contract runs out. In addition to that, Raphael Varane could also be on his way out, with the Frenchman said to be favouring a transfer to Manchester United this summer.
So, while Real Madrid have already signed David Alaba on a free transfer, bringing in another centre-back would hold them in good stead as they look to usher in a new era of success under Don Carlo. To that end, it is understood that the Merengues are prioritising a summer move for 22-year-old Kounde to bolster their defensive unit.
And, there seems to have been a major development on this front, with the aforementioned report now claiming that Real Madrid have launched an offer of €50 million for Kounde. However, Sevilla, who are known to be a tough negotiating club, have pointed their La Liga rivals towards the 22-year-old’s release clause, which stands at a whopping €80 million.
Real Madrid, for their part, are unwilling to splash that amount of money on a defender, which is understandable considering their iffy financial situation. However, they have made contact with Kounde to discuss personal terms, with the defender himself previously hinting that he would be open to a summer switch to a club where he can challenge for trophies consistently.
It now remains to be seen whether Los Nervionenses are willing to hold firm on their stance of budge from the €80 million asking price, which could allow Real Madrid to swoop him away in the summer. However, any move could depend on whether Varane does end up following Ramos out the exit doors at the Bernabeu.
