Jules Kounde: Man Utd handed ‘golden opportunity’ to land long-term defensive target | OneFootball

A golden opportunity for Manchester United to finally secure their long-term defensive target, Jules Kounde, is emerging.

Kounde has been on United’s radar since his Sevilla days. Yet it was Barcelona who won the race, prising him away from the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán Stadium in the summer of 2022 for around £48 million.

Right move

At Camp Nou, Kounde’s quality and versatility saw him quickly establish himself as a permanent fixture in the Catalan giants’ line-up, rotating seamlessly between central defence and right-back.

His ability to blend elite athleticism with composure on the ball and tactical intelligence has elevated him into one of the world’s finest defenders. Unsurprisingly, his exploits in Catalonia have made it difficult for United to erase him from their transfer wishlist.

Under Erik ten Hag, the Red Devils again attempted to bring him to Old Trafford, but they were unable to pull off a deal. Barcelona, at the time, were unwilling to let one of their best players leave so easily.

A big summer ahead for Kounde and Barcelona

While the Spanish champions have been resisting selling their defender, going so far as to offer him a new five-year deal last year, they now appear ready to make a U-turn.

Fichajes report:

“Barcelona are willing to listen to offers for Jules Koundé in the summer, with his starting price being close to 80 million euros.”

Explaining the shift, the report adds:

“Barcelona is not currently experiencing a period of complete sporting stability, and this situation has put several key players in the squad under scrutiny. Among them is Jules Koundé.”

It is not solely about sporting stability either. The feeling at Camp Nou is that the Frenchman’s performances in recent weeks have dipped, further opening the door to a potential exit.

Likely destination

With Barcelona’s intention to sell now clear, the question turns to where Kounde could move next. Bayern Munich have been linked.

However, the Spanish giants are keen to do business with Premier League sides, believing they are the ones capable of meeting their asking price.

In England, Fichajes note:

“Manchester United, Chelsea, and Liverpool are all closely monitoring the situation of the French centre-back.”

Naturally, Old Trafford faithful will hope it is United who act decisively and win the race.

If they do, Kounde could be the ultimate replacement for Jonny Evans and Victor Lindelof, while Harry Maguire is also expected to leave. Who knows? He might be the statement defensive signing Ineos choose to make.

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