Jules Koundé | Signs for Barcelona

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People mention Konate as style wise as close to Van Dijk as you l get, at £36m in what's to be a tight market budget wise, I think this makes the most sense.

I don't think we l be signing a centreback for 60-70m.

I could see a Varane or De Ligt swap deal for Pogba possibly but the only player I feel we may spend a decent amount on is Sancho.

Some good players linked with us at decent prices

Konate £36m
Andre Silva £30m
Camavinga £40-45m
Sancho £60/70m

Any 3 of those 4 would be good, all 4 would be perfect.
 
jesperjaap said:
Style wise I see him as Reals Ferdinand to Ramos being Vidic in the partnership....but Ramos is by far the better defender individually for Real, one of the very best of his generation like Ferdinand before him. Varane is the excellent defender in a perfect partnership but hugely boosted by the partnership he is in, quality but not one of the worlds great very very best defenders individually, much like how I see Vidic personally, which sounds critical, it isnt he was excellent but Ferdinand made him a world great with the gelling of the partnership in my opinion.
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While I do think Rio at his absolute best was slightly better than Vidic at his best, I'm surprised you put it that way. If anything Vidic was the one who was able to prove he was just as good without Rio beside him, seeing as half of the games in what was arguably his best ever period was with Evans while Rio was injured. Vidic took over as the worlds best defender after Rio's back injury dropped his level, so I think you're being harsh saying he wasn't one of the worlds great very best defenders.
 
MadDogg said:
While I do think Rio at his absolute best was slightly better than Vidic at his best, I'm surprised you put it that way. If anything Vidic was the one who was able to prove he was just as good without Rio beside him, seeing as half of the games in what was arguably his best ever period was with Evans while Rio was injured. Vidic took over as the worlds best defender after Rio's back injury dropped his level, so I think you're being harsh saying he wasn't one of the worlds great very best defenders.
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Fair enough, I think if you asked anybody outside of England to name the best defenders of the last 20years, few would name him though, Italians most ceretainly wouldnt. I think he was brilliant for us, but he did have faults that Ferdinand covered. Was an excellent professional, servant and player for us, but I dont think individually he was one of the worlds elite centre backs no. Just as I dont think Ronny Johnsen was, but he was also fabulous and criminally under rated for us, but he was the perfect foil rathr than individual
 
RUCK4444 said:
Yeah totally agree. Leicester will be raking in another truck full of cash when he moves on.
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Yes, there will be some profit to be made there. Truth be told though, all the clubs knew about him but Leicester were the one to pull the trigger on him. Waiting for a player to become a Premier league star is an expensive game that Leicester cannot afford to play
 
Not reading much about this lad anymore, no longer on the list? Is it all about Torres now?
 
charlenefan said:
Not reading much about this lad anymore, no longer on the list? Is it all about Torres now?
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Torres has been the more obvious choice all along. Suits our style better and is left footed, which is something Ole values in his leftsided centerbacks. Varane also plays leftsided, but is right footed. Then again, he is a proven quality player. Kounde plays on the right.
 
Holters said:
Torres has been the more obvious choice all along. Suits our style better and is left footed, which is something Ole values in his leftsided centerbacks. Varane also plays leftsided, but is right footed. Then again, he is a proven quality player. Kounde plays on the right.
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Why does he suit our style more? I think we will buy Torres, but I would favour Jules Kounde. Bit more aggressive, and in my opinion a better and more natural defender. Just as good on the ball. Probably been the best player of a side that concede very few goals in La Liga at the age of 22. I think it will be a lot harder to sign Kounde though. Everyone will want to sign him.

It is probably a good thing that Torres is left footed, but Harry Maguire looks great on the left. I'm not sure he will look any better on the right. And as a result, I really dont think it matters. Just get the best player.
 
Another poster had the head to head stats for Kounde vs Torres. Kounde smokes Torres in most of the defensive stats and was equal in aerial duals. Given neither will be cheap, I find it difficult to prefer Torres over Kounde except for maybe his left foot.
 
Tallis said:
Another poster had the head to head stats for Kounde vs Torres. Kounde smokes Torres in most of the defensive stats and was equal in aerial duals. Given neither will be cheap, I find it difficult to prefer Torres over Kounde except for maybe his left foot.
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Maguire plays as a LCB, so dont see the point in moving him to the right to accomodate a LCB with a left foot. Kounde as RCB and Maguire would be a great pairing, so for me the left foot isnt even an advantage. I dont think it has any real value on the pitch
 
izec said:
Maguire plays as a LCB, so dont see the point in moving him to the right to accomodate a LCB with a left foot. Kounde as RCB and Maguire would be a great pairing, so for me the left foot isnt even an advantage. I dont think it has any real value on the pitch
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Surely if your CBs are splitting then the foot they play off changes what they can do in possession? A left-footed LCB who shifts out left in possession is going to have different angle of passes than a right-footed LCB who moves out to the left.

I remember Guardiola specifically citing this in regard to Laporte and how they had to change how they built from the back when he wasn't there because the other options were right-footed.
 
sullydnl said:
I remember Guardiola specifically citing this in regard to Laporte and how they had to change how they built from the back when he wasn't there because the other options were right-footed.
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True, but they still look better with Dias/Stones (both right footed).

Personally, I also think it is easier to defend on the right when you are right footed (for instance when defending against a right foot cutting in).
 
What I really like about Kounde is how agile/nimble he is. I also really like they way he get «stuck in». It is hard to explain, but he is aggressive, but not naiv or excessive.

I think that would make him a very good match to both Lindelof and Maguire. Torres look like a very good player, but Kounde is something else and probably a better match for Maguire.

However, it might be impossible to get Kounde.
 
Tallis said:
Another poster had the head to head stats for Kounde vs Torres. Kounde smokes Torres in most of the defensive stats and was equal in aerial duals. Given neither will be cheap, I find it difficult to prefer Torres over Kounde except for maybe his left foot.
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Yep that's why I bumped this thread because in that comparison Kounde topped Torres, Lindelof and Maguire
 
charlenefan said:
Yep that's why I bumped this thread because in that comparison Kounde topped Torres, Lindelof and Maguire
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Kounde looks like a leader as well. My vote would go to Kounde now that Konate is out of the question. Liverpool getting Konate was a very smart deal.
 
beingshe7don said:
Kounde looks like a leader as well. My vote would go to Kounde now that Konate is out of the question. Liverpool getting Konate was a very smart deal.
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Not sure about that, isn't he always injured?
 
beingshe7don said:
He hasn't held the shirt with Klopp but I think it's almost 99% done.
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According to the very reliable Liverpool correspondent Paul Joyce, Liverpool are facing complications signing Konate due to Leipzig wanting the release clause paid in one lump sum, which is a problem for Liverpool.
 
andersj said:
Why does he suit our style more? I think we will buy Torres, but I would favour Jules Kounde. Bit more aggressive, and in my opinion a better and more natural defender. Just as good on the ball. Probably been the best player of a side that concede very few goals in La Liga at the age of 22. I think it will be a lot harder to sign Kounde though. Everyone will want to sign him.
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Kounde is less disciplined and positionally weaker, and Torres also passes through the lines better. Torres plays for Spain and is constantly linked to Real Madrid, so I see no reason why it should be harder to get Kounde than Torres. I believe United simply prefer and value Torres strengths more.
 
Holters said:
Kounde is less disciplined and positionally weaker, and Torres also passes through the lines better. Torres plays for Spain and is constantly linked to Real Madrid, so I see no reason why it should be harder to get Kounde than Torres. I believe United simply prefer and value Torres strengths more.
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I do think Kounde is the first priority of both Real Madrid and Chelsea. He was also first choice of Man City last year.

It is impressive being positionally weak, and still the best defender for this Sevilla team.
 
Kounde is pretty much the upgraded version of Fofana at Leicester who everybody seems to be raving about.

Worrying about his size is really not an issue.
 
Adnan said:
According to the very reliable Liverpool correspondent Paul Joyce, Liverpool are facing complications signing Konate due to Leipzig wanting the release clause paid in one lump sum, which is a problem for Liverpool.
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Interesting! Seems to be a recurring theme when there is a clause. Good way for the seller to raise the fee if the buyer is unable to pay upfront. Almost like a loop hole with the clause thing..
 
Adam-Utd said:
Kounde is pretty much the upgraded version of Fofana at Leicester who everybody seems to be raving about.

Worrying about his size is really not an issue.
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I agree. Buying a player who has been integral/key for a team who had conceded less thirty goal (in 36 games though) in La Liga feels quite safe. Seville is not Burnley either. It is a quality team.

At 22 you would expect him to get better too.
 


Di Marzio reporting that Kounde is United's #1 target for defence. But he also goes on to say that the price demanded by Sevilla is proving to be excessive for United but United have not given up, yet.

He goes on to say that the alternative targets are Wesley Fofana and Cristian Romero.
 
Adnan said:


Di Marzio reporting that Kounde is United's #1 target for defence. But he also goes on to say that the price demanded by Sevilla is proving to be excessive for United but United have not given up, yet.

He goes on to say that the alternative targets are Wesley Fofana and Cristian Romero.
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Of course Leicester are going to give up Fofana really easily :rolleyes:
 
Adnan said:


Di Marzio reporting that Kounde is United's #1 target for defence. But he also goes on to say that the price demanded by Sevilla is proving to be excessive for United but United have not given up, yet.

He goes on to say that the alternative targets are Wesley Fofana and Cristian Romero.
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i cant imagine he would cost much less
 
sun_tzu said:
i cant imagine he would cost much less
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They weasled £80m out of us last time we signed one of their CBs, they're probably licking their lips at the prospect.
 
I don't think Fofana has been all that, especially in a 2 man pairing.

And between Kounde and Varane, I'd prefer the latter tbh
 
mu4c_20le said:
I don't think Fofana has been all that, especially in a 2 man pairing.

And between Kounde and Varane, I'd prefer the latter tbh
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Varane's a great player but I'm skeptical of him when he's not paired with Ramos. Also feels a bit like a classic LvG/Mourinho era United signing like Di Maria.
 
Adnan said:
I'd prefer Kounde over Varane.
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AltiUn said:
Varane's a great player but I'm skeptical of him when he's not paired with Ramos. Also feels a bit like a classic LvG/Mourinho era United signing like Di Maria.
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That's a fair concern. I'm just tired of rolling the dice on CB again, Varane is a classy defender that SAF really liked, and almost signed a decade ago.
 
Adnan said:


Di Marzio reporting that Kounde is United's #1 target for defence. But he also goes on to say that the price demanded by Sevilla is proving to be excessive for United but United have not given up, yet.

He goes on to say that the alternative targets are Wesley Fofana and Cristian Romero.
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Would he actually be possible with Atalanta having first option or a buy clause?
 
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