5 center backs Manchester United can target to challenge for the title next season

SHEFFIELD, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 24: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Manager of Manchester United interacts with Harry Maguire of Manchester United following the Premier League match between Sheffield United and Manchester United at Bramall Lane on November 24, 2019 in Sheffield, United Kingdom. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
SHEFFIELD, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 24: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Manager of Manchester United interacts with Harry Maguire of Manchester United following the Premier League match between Sheffield United and Manchester United at Bramall Lane on November 24, 2019 in Sheffield, United Kingdom. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
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Manchester United
Jules Kounde of Sevilla FC (Photo by David S. Bustamante/Soccrates/Getty Images)

#4 Jules Kounde (Sevilla)

Yet another promising French center back (no wonder Aymeric Laporte is still uncapped), Jules Kounde first came under the spotlight in Sevilla’s Europa League winning campaign last season.

Signed from Bordeaux 2 years ago, Kounde wasted no time in becoming the Spaniards’ first choice center back, making 29 LaLiga appearances in his first season at the club.

Before their 3-2 Champions League loss to Borussia Dortmund in midweek, Sevilla had been on a run of 7 successive games without conceding a goal, and the 22-year-old was instrumental in those games.

In fact, Manchester United fans will remember him well – Kounde was highly impressive when the Red Devils were beaten by Sevilla in the Europa League semifinal last year.

The Frenchman is another player who is fantastic on the ball with an unusually wide passing range for a center back. The problem though, is that he’s not built like Konate and is only 5’10” – even shorter than Lindelof, and the Premier League could prove a more difficult environment for him than LaLiga.