Manchester United may have found their ideal target who is the ‘real deal’ – Dominic Booth

Jules Kounde is just not particularly tall, not massively bodily imposing and he has little or no expertise on the very highest degree.

And on Wednesday night time within the Champions League — enjoying in his first ever knockout tie in Europe’s premier competitors — he was given the runaround by two erstwhile Manchester United switch targets.

Kounde’s Sevilla misplaced 3-2 at house to a Borussia Dortmund facet, who have been impressed by Erling Haaland (two objectives) and Jadon Sancho (an help and a Man Of The Match efficiency). A Dortmund facet who’ve been struggling considerably within the Bundesliga this season, amid uncertainty over the futures of Haaland and Sancho.

It wasn’t the best introduction to the very elite degree of European soccer for Kounde and his teammates.

However do not be fooled. Kounde is the true deal. Why else would Actual Madrid and Manchester Metropolis each make a play for his signature in the summertime simply gone, when the Frenchman was solely 21 and had only one season of soccer for an elite crew underneath his belt?

Courageous and adventurous, and blessed with respectable restoration tempo, Kounde is a really fashionable centre-back extra of Eric Bailly’s ilk than Victor Lindelof’s.

Talking in 2018 after breaking by means of into Bordeaux’s defence as a youngster, Kounde defined how his top (round 5ft 10in) had not restricted his ceiling as a centre-back.

“I’ve all the time tried to disregard the truth that measurement generally is a barrier on this place,” mentioned Kounde, who has additionally performed in midfield, such is his versatility and total ability as a footballer.

However it’s at centre-back the place the Frenchman desires to play, and has shone in recent times.

He added: “For a lot of, particularly recruiters, tall gamers are required in central defence. Measurement is only a element for me, it’s a really small side of the sport and the job.

“My small measurement is subsequently no drawback for me. With the coach, we’ve a great relationship. He trusts me and offers me plenty of freedom, particularly within the relaunch with the ball. We focus on loads and that permits me to be environment friendly.”

Manchester United’s European marketing campaign resumes this week as they journey to Turin to tackle Actual Sociedad within the first leg of the Europa League final 32.

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Kounde would tick plenty of containers for United, who’re rightly trying to find the best centre-back associate for Harry Maguire.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has had plenty of belief within the Maguire-Lindelof axis on the again, and loves his fellow Scandinavian who’s cool on the ball, however Lindelof lacks some bodily attributes, Bailly has health points and Axel Tuanzebe is but to show himself as a ready-made first-teamer. Kounde would plug the hole completely.

He is by no means had a serious damage. enjoying just about persistently for three-and-half straight seasons, and has tailored every time he is been requested to rise to a brand new degree in his profession.

Okay, his debut within the Champions League group phases didn’t fairly go to plan, however he helped Sevilla accrue 13 factors to qualify by means of the group stage. And once more, there isn’t any smoke with out fireplace and the switch curiosity in Kounde tells its personal story.

Dayot Upamecano was a participant United preferred earlier than he determined to change from RB Leipzig to Bayern Munich. There are others on their wish-list.

However with Metropolis getting their centre-backs final summer time — a significant factor of their possible reclamation of the title — the principle competitors from Kounde may come from Spain’s megaclubs.

Once more, that ought to not deter United; it ought to merely inform them that they’ve discovered their centre-back goal.