Sevilla CB Jules Kounde
The Jules Kounde to Real Madrid transfer rumors are not over by any means, and that should be a positive for Madridistas. He and Antonio Rudiger are the most heavily-linked center backs to the Merengues, and between the two of them, the up-and-coming, yet experienced, LaLiga center back has the greater upside and translatability to what Madrid are doing. Just recently, we saw him make some nice defensive plays against LaLiga’s most dangerous one-on-one threat, Madrid’s very own Vinicius Jr.
Kounde is an intelligent center back who is among the best at the position technically. A great passer, Kounde completes nearly 89 percent of his attempts in LaLiga for Sevilla and even draws a foul per game despite being a pure center back in a back four.
Not cheap by any means, Kounde was a highly successful investment on Monchi’s part, as Sevilla bought him from Bordeaux a few years ago for a solid price. Real Madrid would have to pay upwards of 50 million euros for a center back who should also be hotly contested by Chelsea again – provided the Blues are able to make signings in 2022.
Kounde is worth the price, though, and he should still be affordable, especially after not getting a transfer in 2021. Real Madrid should go for the best possible option, and when considering his consistency and individual skill-set that we have seen in LaLiga, Kounde looks like the top option. And while I would not consider him a solution at right back, his versatility can only be seen as a benefit to Madrid.