Manchester United 'reluctant to pay £68m for Jules Kounde'

Manchester United are reportedly interested in signing Sevilla centre-back Jules Kounde but are reluctant to pay £68m for the Frenchman.

The Red Devils are believed to have identified the 22-year-old as their leading defensive target ahead of this summer's transfer window, with the club said to be keen to sign a long-term partner for Harry Maguire.

According to the Daily Mail, the 20-time English champions are closely monitoring Kounde, who has also been linked with Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain.

However, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side are reluctant to activate the defender's £68m buy-out fee due to the financial impact of the coronavirus outbreak.

Kounde, who has a contract at Estadio Ramon until the summer of 2024, has scored three times in 33 appearances at club level during the 2020-21 campaign.

United are also allegedly still 'very interested' in signing Borussia Dortmund's Jadon Sancho.