Manchester United reportedly appear set to sign Jules Kounde in a €45 million deal, with Barcelona falling far behind in the race for the Sevilla defender.
According to a report by Transfer Market Web, Jules Kounde is closing in on joining Manchester United in the summer transfer window in a €45 million deal. The Sevilla defender has also been a target for Barcelona, apart from Juventus and Paris Saint-German, but the Red Devils are set to prevail in his race.
Jules Kounde has taken little time in establishing himself as one of the best defenders on show in La Liga, after having arrived at Sevilla from Bordeaux in the summer of 2019. Over the last couple of years, the 22-year-old has been a mainstay at the back for the Andalusian club, and has played a key role in their certain top four finish this term.
So far in his Sevilla stint, Kounde has made 85 appearances, even chipping in with 6 goals and 2 assists. Suffice to say, his progress has been noted by a number of top clubs across Europe, those including Barcelona and Manchester United, among others, who are keen on signing him in the summer transfer window.
Barcelona are set to make some major changes to their squad this summer, with defence being one of the areas that is set to be addressed. While Eric Garcia is on the verge of joining Barcelona and likely to be the long-term successor for Gerard Pique, the fact that Samuel Umtiti and Clement Lenglet are also facing uncertain futures at Camp Nou means another centre-back must be signed.
To that end, Barcelona have been linked with Luiz Felipe, Matthijs de Ligt and several others, with Kounde being a viable target as well. Manchester United, on the other hand, are also in the market for a new central defender, despite tying Eric Bailly down to a brand new deal recently.
That is because Bailly has had his fair share of injuries over the course of his stint at Old Trafford, with the fitness issues not letting up much this term. With Victor Lindelof also enduring a tough campaign due to a persistent back problem and Axel Tuanzebe possibly being a candidate to be loaned out this summer, it is not hard to see why Manchester United would want a centre-back.
Analyzing Manchester United’s rumoured pursuits of centre-backs – Who should the Red Devils sign?
As a result, Manchester United have shown an interest in Pau Torres, Manuel Akanji and others, with Kounde also being one of their targets. It now looks like the Red Devils could be set to beat Barcelona, as well as other suitors in Juventus and PSG, in pursuit of Kounde, as they closing in on signing him for €45 million.
The report suggests that while Barcelona, Juventus and PSG have been tracking Kounde, Manchester United have made giant strides in the race to sign the 22-year-old. What now remains to be seen is if the Premier League heavyweights can quickly complete the €45 million deal, or if some other suitor manages to swoop him away from Sevilla instead.
I wish Manchester United get the Kounde deal done this summer because they are competent enough to strike such deals.
I mean are incompetent to sign players that other big clubs are also after