Pep Guardiola reportedly wants to sign highly-rated Sevilla defender Jules Kounde as a replacement for Manchester City centre-back Nathan Ake. Chelsea will sign Raheem Sterling from the reigning Premier League champions and plan to back that up with a move for the Dutchman.
Ake, 27, spent five years at Stamford Bridge earlier in his career and is understood to be keen on a switch back to the Londoners this summer. That prospective transfer would leave City light at the back and Kounde has emerged as a possible contender to step in should Ake leave.
City do have Ruben Dias, Aymeric Laporte and John Stones at their disposal. However, they allowed Eric Garcia to leave for Barcelona last summer and would need a fourth option at centre-back moving forward.
READ MORE: Sterling to Chelsea set for confirmation
Kounde, 23, has earned rave reviews at Sevilla and has also been capped 11 times by the France national team. His services have long since had Chelsea and Barcelona on red alert, but reports from Mundo Deportivo claim City are keen to enter the race for his signature. Sevilla could demand around £54million for Kounde. He has two years left to run on his contract.
Elsewhere, three big-hitters from the Premier League - including City - are in the market for Sporting Lisbon starlet Matheus Nunes. The 23-year-old is a central midfielder who has drawn high praise from Guardiola in the past.
Capped eight times by the Portugal national team, Nunes is also wanted by Liverpool and Chelsea. A release clause in his Sporting contract is thought to be worth around €60million.
He still has four years left to run on that agreement. However, according to journalist Rudy Galetti, the three clubs will pursue him during the summer transfer window, though an official approach has yet to be launched. Nunes has played 99 games for Sporting in all competitions after making his debut for the club in 2020.
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