According to Mundo Deportivo, Newcastle could be willing to activate the €90m release clause for Sevilla’s Jules Koundé.
Newcastle are not alone in their admiration for the 23-year-old Frenchman, with Chelsea extremely interested in a move for the player to replace Antonio Rudiger. However, Mundo Deportivo claim that Koundé has his heart set on a move to Barcelona.
Barcelona’s financial woes would mean that they would have to negotiate with Sevilla to land Koundé, whereas Chelsea and Newcastle could afford to activate the release clause. However, that doesn’t mean that the player himself would choose a move to England, and if he were to opt to ply his trade in the Premier League, common sense would dictate that someone of Koundé’s quality and ambition would choose the club playing in European competition.
Sevilla are currently furious with Koundé for aggravating a hip injury on international duty which has required him to have surgery and thus putting doubts into the heads of any prospective suitors, writes Luke Augustus for MailOnline.
As exciting as it is to be linked with a player like Jules Koundé, this one seems like an absolute non-starter and is likely just a case of the media linking the “richest club in football” to a player with a large price tag.