Chelsea and Manchester United are both interested in signing Jules Kounde ahead of the January transfer window, according to reports in Spain.
The centre-back is one of the hottest properties in European football at present, having played a starring role for Sevilla in recent years and breaking through into the French international squad.
The defender was heavily linked with a move to Chelsea in the summer, though despite protracted talks between both sides, no agreement was able to be reached, with the La Liga side ultimately refusing to do business late in the window.
Since then, Chelsea fans have seen young Trevoh Chalobah make an unexpected breakthrough into the first-team squad under Thomas Tuchel, though there remains plenty of question marks within their defensive ranks with Antonio Rudiger, Andreas Christensen, Cesar Azpilicueta and Thiago Silva all out of contract at the end of the season.
According to Spanish publication, AS, Chelsea are ready to renew their interest in Kounde in next months transfer window.
The 23-year-old has an €80 million release clause in his contract at Sevilla, though the report says that Sevilla would be willing to let him go for less if they can secure a replacemdent, though the Andalusian outfit would likely still want in excess of the €50m bid that they knocked back from the Blues in the summer.
Aside from Chelsea though, it is said that Manchester United also have a ‘palpable interest’ in the defender.
United forked out £38 million to sign Raphael Varane in the summer as a partner for Harry Maguire, though the Frenchman has spent most of his Old Trafford career to date on the treatment table, while the Red Devils skipper Maguire has endured a torrid run of form this season.
United do however seem to have more pressing issues to resolve in their squad, particularly in central midfield, with the much-maligned Scott McTominay and Fred partnership continuing to be first-choice under Ralf Rangnick, while Paul Pogba’s future is uncertain.
