Manchester United plotting January move for 21-year-old centre-back

Manchester United are set to be active in the January transfer window in order to bounce back from an underwhelming summer.

United are keen to add to their backline, especially after some disappointing performances from their defenders at the start of the season, and they are now set to bid for Sevilla's Jules Kounde.

Kounde's value has skyrocketed over the past year after a magnificent season with Sevilla as they won the UEFA Europa League.

Whilst he was very good in La Liga, his performances in the Europa League caught the eyes of plenty of potential buyers, including United.

Kounde was a target for United's arch rivals Manchester City, who submitted a £46 million bid in the summer, before eventually settling for Ruben Dias from Benfica.

The 21-year-old only joined Sevilla just over a year ago from Bordeaux for £22 million.

Sevilla are now demanding around £60 million for him, and before United can make an offer of that amount, they will probably have to offload some of their other players, including the likes of Marcos Rojo and Phil Jones, who are on the fringes of the squad.

Current Sevilla director of football Monchi confirmed that Sevilla rejected a £46 million bid from City earlier in the window, adding that "Jules is an immense professional and I have no doubt about his involvement with our club."

He also said that "If more offers arrive, we will assess it and decide, as we always do."

Manchester United have conceded 11 goals in their first three games of the season, and there are plenty of questions of club captain Harry Maguire, out of form Victor Lindelof and injury-prone Eric Bailly and Axel Tuanzebe.