Manchester United’s defense has been disastrous since the 2020/21 season kicked off, and the team is reportedly looking to invest in the center back in January in hopes of fixing the issue. According to ESPN, their prime target is Sevilla’s starlet Jules Kounde.
ESPN’s sources say that Man Utd’s manager Ole Gunnar Solskajer placed Kounde on the shortlist of his preferred transfer targets, and will urge the club to make a move for France international if their defensive struggles continue. The Premier League side monitored the 21-year-old player in the past as well, but are yet to make an official approach.
Kounde is believed to be available for around $70 million, which means that United would first need to sell some players in order to get him. So far, the most likely option to leave Old Trafford as a result are Phil Jones and Marcos Rojo, who are believed to be surplus to requirements.
Manchester United’s crosstown rivals City were also interested in Jules Kounde this past summer but have been turned off by Sevilla’s asking price and the player’s lack of games on a professional level. Instead, City opted for Benfica’s Ruben Dias.
Kounde spent his early career with Bordeaux, before making a $30 million move to Sevilla in the summer of 2019. He immediately emerged as one of the club’s most reliable players on defense and has since played 43 matches while being part of the UEFA Europa League-winning squad.
