In a recent report, Marca stated that Barcelona are set to focus on recruiting Sevilla defender Jules Kounde this summer. It has been mentioned that the Catalan giants have made the French centre-back a priority target for this transfer window.
Kounde’s Impressive Form In Spanish Football
Kounde enjoyed a solid season at the Andalusian club as he was responsible for producing a handful of dominant displays for them at the back. The French defensive ace was involved in 44 matches for Sevilla in the previous campaign, netting three goals and grabbing one assist in all competitions.
The 23-year-old was a dominant presence on the defensive end of the field based on his average of 1.3 tackles, 0.7 interceptions and 3.1 clearances per game in La Liga football. He was even accurate when distributing the ball from the back, as evidenced by his pass success rate of 88.9% in the top tier of Spanish football (stats via whoscored).
Is Kounde A Good Option For Barcelona Boss Xavi?
Kounde can be a rock at the back when he is playing well on the field. He is a good tackler of the ball and can time his challenges well to earn the ball back for his team inside his half. Kounde mainly operates in central defence but can even fill in at right-back.
The French centre-back is often quick to spot the danger and doesn’t hesitate to put his foot through the ball when needed. He is even proficient at playing his way out from the back which will suit Xavi‘s playing style at the Nou Camp.
Kounde will enhance the quality of Barca‘s backline and could help them compete with Real Madrid for the La Liga title next season. Therefore, the Sevilla star will be a decent option for the Catalan giants to pursue in this off-season.
Kounde has what it takes to become a real asset in Xavi’s squad in the coming seasons. At 23, he is definitely a player on the rise and would be a welcome acquisition for Barcelona during this summer transfer window.
