With the January transfer window fast approaching, there is speculation surrounding the Reds’ transfer business after the current injury crisis at the club, which sees both Joe Gomez and Virgil van Dijk out for the majority of the season.
The Reds have recently been linked with an abundance of central defenders, with the latest coming in the form of Manchester City target Jules Kounde of Spanish side Sevilla FC.
At just 22-years-old, Kounde has become a regular starter for Sevilla, helping them to Europa League victory last season over Inter Milan – and this season the Frenchman has carried on this impressive form.
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Not quite the hard-hitting defender that enjoys a crunching tackle, Kounde has averaged 0.5 tackles per game this season but does have 1.3 interceptions and 3.3 clearances on average per game in La Liga this campaign. The youngster is a great aerial threat too, averaging 3 aerial duels won per game despite standing at just 5ft 9.
I think from the stats and what was witnessed of Kounde last season in both La Liga and the Europa League at Sevilla is that there is a clear quality that the French defender possesses. Liverpool’s defenders have shown clear quality with the ball at their feet and have shown their passing to be of a high standard especially given the way that Klopp likes to play and Kounde certainly fits that bill.
This season he has an average of 89.4% pass success rate from defence, something that Jurgen Klopp will no doubt see as a huge positive given the Reds’ quick counter-attacking style that requires quality on the ball from his defence.
It would be incredible if the Reds landed the plyer especially given him being one of Man City’s top targets in defence recently – but he won’t come cheap, with a reported release clause of €90 million.
What do you think Liverpool fans, would you like to see Jules Kounde in Red? Let us know in the comments section below…