Manchester City have had a bid rejected for Sevilla defender Jules Kounde, reports say, but they are planning to return with a better offer.
City have been searching for a centre-back all summer, with Nathan Ake arriving from Bournemouth and Kalidou Koulibaly the top choice to join him. However, negotiations for Koulibaly have dragged on, taking City into the new season with their defence still not sorted.
Now, it's claimed that the Blues have turned their attentions to other options, with Kounde emerging as a realistic alternative, according to the Mail.
Reports in Spain had suggested that City were set to make a bid for Kounde, 21, but the defender quickly came out and committed his future to Sevilla.
“I am a Sevilla player, I am happy here," he told Estadio Deportivo.
"There is a phrase that we repeat a lot and sometimes it seems that it is said without thinking, but the reality is that in the world of football we never know what is going to happen. At the moment, I am a Sevilla player and I am very focused on what we have to do as a team. Today, I am staying at Sevilla.”
But it seems City's hopes of signing Kounde are still alive, as the Mail say they had an initial offer rejected by Sevilla, who had signed him for £21m just last summer.
Now, it's claimed City are considering a higher £46m offer, potentially including Nicolas Otamendi moving the other way, with Sevilla considering whether such a big profit in just twelve months is worth accepting a fee lower than his £82m release clause.
Meanwhile, Marca say City's offer for Kounde was actually around £50m, with Sevilla rejecting that and referring City to his release clause. They also repeat the reports that City had an £82m bid for Jose Gimenez of Atletico Madrid rejected.
