Carlos insists Sevilla team-mate Kounde has the quality to play for a ‘great European club’

Sevilla defender Diego Carlos has lauded team-mate Jules Kounde by insisting the Manchester United target is ready to play for a ‘great’ side in European football.

Kounde, 22, has established himself as one of the best prospects in the centre back position across Europe over the course of the last two seasons.

Manchester City made moves to sign the France international last summer, while Sportsmail revealed last month that rivals United retain an interest in him despite their unwillingness to pay his £68million release clause.

Kounde has been linked with a mega-money move to Manchester United in recent weeks

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is keen on adding a defender to his ranks this summer, with reports suggesting the Old Trafford outfit are also considering Villarreal defender Pau Torres as an alternative to Kounde.

But speaking to media worldwide ahead of the Seville derby against Real Betis on Sunday, Brazilian defender Carlos said his defensive partner is ready to take the next step in his career and praised his qualities in defence and attack.  

‘Yes, he has quality and he can play for great European clubs,’ Carlos said.

‘He is a young player who can still improve over time, he has got great qualities, he is very strong and I am sure he can play for a big club as a great defender. We have good communication on and off the pitch and we have a good relationship. 

The duo will be put to the test again as they face city rivals Real Betis in the Seville derby 

‘To have a strong defence, we also need all the other players to help us and we can help them to attack, so Kounde really looks to attack too and like all the other midfielders, we all help each other and we are a good team in attack and defence.’

Sevilla’s quality at both ends of the pitch will be put to the test once again as they take on city rivals Betis on Sunday in the same fixture which saw LaLiga return in May last year following the first wave of coronavirus.

Just six points separate Julen Lopetegui’s fourth-place side from Betis in sixth, although the hosts will still have a game in hand following Sunday’s clash.

Only leaders Atletico Madrid have conceded fewer league goals than Sevilla’s 20 this season, a return which has consequently seen the stock of both Carlos and Kounde rise. 

Carlos, 27, himself was linked with a move to the Premier League last summer having helped Sevilla to a top-four LaLiga finish and the club’s sixth Europa League title. 

Arsenal, Liverpool and Man City were all reportedly tracking the defender in the summer, but Pep Guardiola’s men opted for Ruben Dias and Nathan Ake while the Gunners instead moved for Carlos’ compatriot Gabriel Magalhaes. 

Carlos, meanwhile, was linked with moves to Arsenal and Liverpool during the summer

However, the Brazilian insisted his focus remains battling for Julen Lopetegui’s outfit

He joined David Luiz as another Brazilian defender at the Gunners while Thiago Silva went on to join Chelsea on a free after leaving Paris Saint-Germain.

However, Carlos denied that he had spoken to any of his compatriots about a move to the Premier League, adding he does not have ‘a lot of contact’ with players in England and his desire to focus on current matters at Sevilla.

‘No I haven’t spoken to those players [Luiz and Thiago Silva], I have just been talking with my colleagues within the club,’ he added. 

‘I have got a lot of colleagues who have played in the Premier League but I don’t have a lot of contact with people in the Premier League. 

‘I watch the Premier League on the television but I think more about the league in which I am playing in at the moment.’

Watch Sevilla vs Real Betis in El Gran Derbi at 8pm this Sunday March 14 on LaLigaTV, available from just £6.99 a month via Premier Sports and Amazon Prime Video Channels.