Pranav Nair
Arsenal to battle Manchester United for Jules Kounde
According to Marca (h/t The Express), Arsenal could beat Manchester United to making an opening bid for Sevilla star Jules Kounde.
The Sevilla star is among the best young centre-backs on the continent and has made a name for himself in La Liga. A key player for the Andalusians, he also earned himself a spot in France’s squad for the Euros.
The defender recently spoke about his future, hinting at a possible move away from the club. He has no shortage of suitors, with Chelsea also in the mix.
The Gunners are keen to rebuild after what has been a disappointing season. They have identified Kounde as the player to replace David Luiz who has already left the club.
The Brazilian’s departure leaves Rob Holding as the lone right-sided centre-back in the squad. While Arsenal would like to bring in Kounde, it is easier said than done.
At 22, Kounde has his best years ahead of him and can emerge as a leading player for years to come.
A step down!
It is debatable if Arsenal can afford Kounde. The Gunners will need to fork out around £51million, a figure that could be out of reach as they have missed out on European qualification altogether.
Kounde in all honestly will be taking a step down if he moves to Arsenal. While Mikel Arteta’s side may turn around their fortunes in the future, the present represents a rather stark reality.
The Gunners are currently not in a position to offer the Frenchman a better project than what he already has at Sevilla. He is better off moving to United or Chelsea instead.
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It would be fair to say that if Kounde is keen to progress, he is better off staying away from Arsenal. There would be little reason for us to worry about the Gunners stealing a march for the Frenchman.
Chelsea however will prove to be a bigger threat. Thomas Tuchel has brought renewed hope to the Bridge and winning the Champions League will clearly make them a club in demand.
