Sevilla have set an initial asking price of between €65m and €70m for highly-rated defender Jules Kounde, with Manchester United and Real Madrid eyeing a summer move for the Frenchman.
The 22-year-old’s current contract features a release clause of €80m (£69m), but he has recently expressed his desire to move to a bigger club, putting pressure on the Spanish outfit to sell their starlet.
And Mundo Deportivo reports that Sevilla have set an asking price of between €65m (£56m) and €70m (£60m) for Kounde, as they prepare for a summer of negotiation with Europe’s heavyweights.
Sporting director Monchi is not happy with the club’s decision to negotiate below the release clause, but the talented defender made his intentions clear in a recent interview, when he dropped a major hint to any interested parties.
Kounde revealed that he has ambitions of playing for a bigger club in Europe, and hinted that ‘we’ll see what the future holds.’
“Going to Sevilla seemed to be the best option to try to improve myself and I don’t regret my choice,” he said.
“I’m already at a big club, but obviously I’d like to play for an even bigger club. We’ll see what the future holds for me, but it’s something that’s in my head.”
Kounde has shone in his two seasons in La Liga, staking a claim as one of the best up and coming defenders in Europe. His incredible performances have even attracted French national coach Didier Deschamps, who has selected the Sevilla star in his 26-man squad for Euro 2020.
And it is those commanding displays which have convinced the likes of Man Utd and Madrid to track the French defender, as they search for the right man to complete their own backlines. The Red Devils are hunting for the perfect partner for skipper Harry Maguire, and they believe Kounde could be the man.
The fact that Sevilla are also prepared to negotiate below the release clause makes him a tantalising prospect for Man Utd. Barcelona are also believed to be interested, but financial restrictions could force them to miss out.
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