MY ACCOUNT
Jules Kounde will have more than just Sevilla and West Ham fans watching him when he takes to the London Stadium pitch on Thursday.
The 23-year-old is a top target for a host of Premier League clubs after some impressive displays for the LaLiga outfit.
After playing the full 90 minutes as his side won the first leg of their Europa League tie against the Hammers last week, a similarly solid display away from home will see the six-time champions safely through to the quarter-final.
We turn the spotlight on the Frenchman ahead of the last-16 showdown.
Jule in the crown
It is easy to see why Kounde is high on many clubs’ lists when it comes to transfer targets in central defence.
Kounde has been a mainstay for Los Nervionenses for the majority of his time there despite being just 20 when he first joined from Bordeaux in the summer of 2019.
By the end of his first season, he had already picked up a Europa League medal with the club, starting nine of their 12 games including the 3-2 final victory over Inter Milan.
And this season the French international has helped Sevilla reach the dizzy heights of second in LaLiga, with the Andalusians boasting the league’s best defence having conceded just 19 goals.
A closer look at the statistics show Kounde is a big reason for that fierce record — he ranks highest at the club for possessions won in the defensive third (95), second for clearances completed (67) and third for aerial duels won (46).
Premier League managers will be pleased to hear that the Paris native is astute at playing out from the back too, leading his team in completed passes per 90 minutes (63.1) with an accuracy of 88.04%.
French fancy
If Kounde had his way last summer, he may already be turning out in the English top flight.
A move to Chelsea seemed likely, with personal terms for the move reportedly agreed but it ultimately fell through after the Blues were unwilling to meet the £67million asking price set by Sevilla.
That fee is said to be closer to £45m this summer as the Spaniards grapple with financial issues, though it remains to be seen whether the Blues will be able to make a move given their transfer ban.
But that will not stop the likes of Manchester United considering a bid ahead of a summer rebuild, while Liverpool have also been credited with an interest.
More recently, Barcelona are said to have joined the race as they look to tempt Kounde to extend his stay in Spain.
Work to do
So why has such a seemingly impressive defender not yet made his big-money move?
Former Liverpool man Steve McManaman has pondered whether the Frenchman still has something missing from his game.
On why he is still at Sevilla, McManaman said earlier this week: “It’s either because he’s too expensive or he’s just not top level yet.
“I still think he has to improve if he’s going to be in the top echelons of the Premier League, where you will find the very best teams.
“To get a player from a top six La Liga club into the Premier League, that player really has to have been playing well and lighting up La Liga.”
A moment earlier this season suggested Kounde may well have some developing to do before he is ready for England’s top level.
During a 1-1 draw with Barcelona in December, he was shown a straight red card for petulantly throwing the ball in Jordi Alba’s face.
And while boss Julen Lopetegui was disappointed with his defender’s moment of madness, he backed him to learn from the mistake.
The Sevilla boss chief after that game: “He knows that he has been wrong, that he got carried away.
“I’m sure that it won’t happen again because Jules is a player who learns.”
Hammer time
As six-time winners, Thursday night is certainly not one of the bigger games in Sevilla’s history but it could be an important one in the career of Kounde.
With West Ham the opponents, there will be an increased English viewership of the London Stadium clash — and on Kounde’s performance.
David Moyes’ men will be desperate to ensure their European adventure does not end with a whimper, meaning Sevilla’s No23 is sure to come under more pressure than he did at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium.
And dealing with the Hammers’ physical bombardment could be what convinces a Premier League club to finally make their move.
