Why Kounde favours Real Madrid over Premier League move
Robin Bairner
- 26 Jun 2021 18:17 BST
- 5 min read
Jules Kounde of Sevilla is set to be one of the summer’s most talked about defensive transfer targets, with Real Madrid leading a number of Premier League clubs who want to sign him.
Interest in Kounde has intensified in recent weeks due to his international debut for France, which was swiftly followed by his first international start at Euro 2020.
In that encounter, he played out of position at right-back, and while the central defender equipped himself reasonably well in that fixture against Portugal, he confessed that he was not entirely comfortable in that role.
While Euro 2020 is set to occupy his thoughts for the immediate future, by the time the competition ends, he could be the subject of a potentially career-defining move to Real Madrid.
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Kounde’s Real Madrid interest
According to Spanish outlet ABC, Kounde favours a move to the Spanish capital ahead of a switch to England.
There is no shortage of interest from the Premier League, with Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham all following him.
Kounde has reportedly told Karim Benzema and Kylian Mbappe – a Real Madrid player and transfer target respectively – that he wishes to move to the club
- However, it is to the Bernabeu that the player wishes to go, with Kounde having reportedly told Karim Benzema and Kylian Mbappe – a Real Madrid player and transfer target respectively – that he wishes to move to the club.
As if moving to arguably the world’s greatest club is not draw enough in itself, Kounde would be going to the Bernabeu as a starter. With Sergio Ramos departing at the end of his contract and Raphael Varane also potentially leaving the club, there could be not just one but two centre-back spots available.
Kounde would be move with a position of strength, while his adaption would, of course, be helped by two seasons of experience in La Liga.
Why it’s not a sure thing
Kounde, though, may not get his dream move to Real Madrid.
It is well known that the Bernabeu club are putting all their eggs in one basket to sign Mbappe from PSG and there is unlikely to be much finance left over for another big summer move.
Sevilla will reportedly not sell Kounde for less than his €80 million release clause, and that is likely to be enough to put him beyond Real Madrid if they capture Mbappe, leaving the door open for Chelsea, Man Utd and Tottenham to lure the defender to the Premier League.
