Sevilla CB Jules Kounde
Let’s go back to another big name in La Liga who is on Real Madrid’s transfer radar. If there is a dream defensive target for Madridistas this summer, then it is 100 percent Jules Kounde. He should qualify as a generational talent, even if center backs don’t get the same praise as elite goal-scorers.
Kounde is wise beyond his years when he plays and is already one of the best ball-playing center backs in Spanish football. The French international is completing nearly 90 percent of his passes with three clearances and more than three aerial duels won per game. Kounde’s propensity for winning in the air is often a topic of discussion. He is small, but he is so intelligent and technically sound that he can score or clear with his head effectively.
With his reading of the game and star power at the heart of one of Europe’s top defenses, Kounde would be a sure-fire starter at Real Madrid, even at the age of 22. He is already a pillar of a Sevilla side that is still in contention for the league title, and Kounde’s work defensively and in the build-up are a big reason for the Andalusian club’s success.
Kounde won’t come cheap. He would be, by far, the most expensive player on this list and could cost more than 80 million euros. Real Madrid most likely cannot afford that. But he is at the top of the wishlist on quality alone.