Chelsea Move to Hijack Manchester United’s Pursuit of Roma Midfielder: Reports
Chelsea have joined the race for AS Roma and France midfielder Manu Kone this summer, per reports from Italy. It complicates matters for Manchester United, who have been in the lead to sign the 25-year-old Roma midfielder. However, the London giants are understood to have already had preliminary talks over Kone.
His fine summer with his country has made him one of the most wanted defensive midfielders on the continent. The Frenchman featured in five of France’s seven World Cup games and was pictured in tears after their semi-final loss to Spain. His displays in North America have boosted his value significantly, and Roma are now looking to sell him for at least €60m to help balance the books.
The former Borussia Monchengladbach anchor has done very well since moving to the Italian capital. Koné was an important player for the Giallorossi last season, scoring two goals and providing three assists in 37 games in all competitions, 33 of them starts.
Manchester United have seen the tough-tackling midfielder as a potential long-term replacement for the departing Casemiro and were once believed to be in pole position to sign him.
Chelsea’s midfield is so crowded that it makes it harder for Koné to move
One of the biggest talking points this summer has been the future of Enzo Fernández, and it is believed that Koné is being chased by Chelsea in part due to the uncertainty regarding his future. The Argentine has been heavily linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge amid rumours of a possible move to Real Madrid.
But the new head coach, Xabi Alonso, has made it clear he wants to keep his star playmaker despite the rumours. Fernández is under contract with the club until June 2032, and that gives the Blues plenty of negotiating power. The point of signing Koné, then, is not to replace another player of comparable quality. It’s about adding strength and speed to a midfield already full of great players.
There are also other business Chelsea have with Roma this window, which is seeing them moving around. The Blues are interested in Koné, but are also considering a possible sale of Alejandro Garnacho to the Serie A side. Now the Premier League big two are involved in a thrilling tug-of-war and which suitor moves quickest before Roma increase their asking price could determine Koné’s final destination.
