Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich are reportedly considering a summer swoop for Chelsea target Jules Kounde.
According to Rudy Galetti, Bayern Munich have emerged as the latest club to enter the race to sign Jules Kounde. The 23-year-old Sevilla starlet is one of the most sought-after defenders in Europe, with many expecting him to join a bigger club in the summer transfer window.
Chelsea have been mainly linked with a move for Kounde for over a year now. But it appears the Premier League giants are set to face stiff competition from Bayern Munich, who are determined to sign a new central defender following Niklas Sule’s move to Borussia Dortmund.
In addition to Sule’s departure, Bayern Munich have faced widespread criticism for their lack of solidity at the back this past season. The likes of Benjamin Pavard, Dayot Upamecano and even Lucas Hernandez have been far from consistent, while Tanguy Nianzou is clearly not ready for first-team action just yet.
It has accentuated the need for a new centre-back at Bayern Munich. The Bavarians have been linked with a move for Jurrien Timber, but Ajax have been quite reluctant to offload the young defensive prodigy, who has also attracted the interest of Manchester United.
It has compelled Bayern Munich to target Kounde, who is reportedly available for a fee of €65 million. The German giants, though, may find it trickier to facilitate the move for the Sevilla defender, not least because of the competition from Chelsea.
The Blues have been linked with a move for Kounde for a long time now. Chelsea were close to securing his services last summer, but Sevilla backed out on the sale by increasing their demands and holding out for a hefty release clause. But this time around, the Spanish giants have appeared a lot more receptive to offers for the 23-year-old French international.
Having already sold Diego Carlos to Aston Villa, Sevilla remain in dire need of financial injection. The sale of Kounde, to that end, could go a long way in helping them balance the books, with Chelsea widely regarded as the likely destination.
The French international has been targeted as a direct replacement for Antonio Rudiger. The German international has joined Real Madrid on a free transfer, with the likes of Cesar Azpilicueta and Andreas Christensen also expected to follow suit by leaving Chelsea in the coming weeks, although the west Londoners have announced the latter’s departure.
Kounde’s capture would represent a major investment for Chelsea in the defensive unit – a young defender who has the potential to become a long-term option at the option. The Blues, though, are hoping to add more stability and experience by bringing in Inter Milan star Milan Skriniar. Bayern Munich’s presence in the race to sign him should also spice things up.