Real Madrid: 3 dream centre back targets for 2022
By Sudhir Salvi
JULES KOUNDE
Jules Kounde is on the same trajectory as was the former Real Madrid captain, Sergio Ramos, and is hot in demand since the last one or two years. Chelsea were in fact interested in signing him last summer but a failure in meeting his release clause meant that the Blues had to retreat empty handed. This season, he has only gone better and played a very crucial role for Sevilla.
Under Julen Lopetegui, the player’s work rate on the ball has improved tremendously and he is a solid carrier in possession going forward. He is a pacey defender and although he lacks the height of some of the modern-day central defenders, his leap makes him a good aerial option. Due to his passing and other abilities on the ball, Kounde is also a decent option to play as the right back.
Like de Ligt, he has a proven experience playing on the elite level of football and perhaps could be a better signing as compared to the Dutchman due to his experience in La Liga. As such, the Spanish top flight is a more challenging division than either the Dutch Eredivisie or the Italian Serie A, and that is one of the things which will be considered when talking of a player’s adaptability.
Kounde’s operation will possibly be a lot more difficult than de Ligt’s mainly because he does not have an agent who will charge exorbitant amounts and secondly because it is currently thought that he has more interest than his Juventus counterpart. Nevertheless, it seems a question of when and not if he will leave Sevilla in the near future and will be an interesting transfer battle.