Manchester United have faced a major setback in their pursuit of Sevilla’s 23-year-old defensive stalwart, Jules Kounde.
A recent report from MARCA has provided an update on the future of Jules Kounde. The Sevilla defender remains one of the most in-demand players in the market due to his success in La Liga. The 23-year-old is open to leaving the club next summer, but Sevilla have no intention to back down from his €80 million release clause.
A product of the Bordeaux youth academy, Kounde was close to joining Chelsea in the summer. However, the move did not materialise as the Blues’ €50 million offer came nowhere close to the defender’s €80 million valuation. The failed move to Stamford Bridge did lead to a revolt from the player for a few days, as per reports.
But the Frenchman has since mentally recovered himself. He has even showcased immense sportsmanship to emerge as one of Sevilla’s top performers this season, as Los Nervionenses continue to remain one of the sturdiest teams, not just in La Liga but all of Europe, under the leadership of Julen Lopetegui.
French national team coach Didier Deschamps already has big plans for Jules Kounde in the future. The defender is even on the radars of Manchester United, who are reportedly weighing up a January move, in an attempt to further strengthen their defensive unit.
However, a valuation of €80 million may rule them out of the race, given that the Red Devils need to tend to more pressing issues in their squad. The addition of a holding midfielder, for one, could be a priority in the upcoming January transfer window, which is why the club has been linked with a move for Borussia Monchengladbach superstar Denis Zakaria.
It will be interesting to see if other clubs do join the race to sign Kounde next summer. Although his €80 million valuation appears to be far too expensive for any top club in Europe, the Frenchman is widely regarded as one of the best young defenders in the world, with the potential to become the best in the business.
As such, it won’t be surprising to see other clubs like Chelsea or Paris Saint-Germain going all out to secure the services of Kounde in the near future. However, Sevilla are determined to hold on to Kounde for the remainder of the season, effectively ruling out not just Manchester United but other prospective suitors from the race to sign him.
So, it looks like the 23-year-old is destined to remain at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium till the end of 2021/22, as he looks to help them secure a place in the knockout rounds of the UEFA Champions League in addition to achieving a top-four finish in La Liga.
