Real Madrid have reportedly earmarked Sevilla centre-back Jules Kounde as a potential replacement for Sergio Ramos, who could move to one of the prominent clubs in Major League Soccer this summer.

Ramos has enjoyed a successful career at the Bernabeu – contributing 97 goals in 650 appearances for Madrid – but the La Liga champions are supposedly keen to bolster their defensive options and provide cover for the Spain international.

Kounde has enjoyed a terrific debut season with Sevilla, helping Los Nervionenses achieve a top-four finish and a place into the Champions League.

According to Cadena Ser via The Mail, Kounde is Madrid’s priority defensive target after Zinedine Zidane was impressed by the defender’s development during the most recent campaign.

The report adds that Dayot Upamecano, Benoit Badiashile and Gabriel Magalhaes are all on Zidane’s wishlist, but Los Blancos may have to wait until next year to recruit owing to the financial concerns arising from the coronavirus pandemic.

Kounde will see his contract at Seville expire at the end of the 2023-24 campaign.