Manchester United’s summer shopping isn’t finished yet. Even after bringing in Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos, the club’s recruitment team still feels the midfield lacks something specific: a physical, ground-covering presence who can win duels and run all day.
That need became painfully obvious earlier this window when United tried to sign Ederson from Atalanta. The Brazilian midfielder looked like the perfect fit — aggressive, relentless, strong in the tackle — but his medical fell through. So the front office went back to the drawing board.
According to TEAMtalk, that search has now landed on AS Roma’s Manu Kone. And sources close to United’s recruitment team say the 25-year-old Frenchman has seriously impressed them.
Why Kone fits the profile
Kone isn’t a household name in the Premier League. He has never played in England. But United’s director of football Jason Wilcox and his staff believe the lack of Prem experience doesn’t matter. They’ve watched him enough to know what he brings.
At the 2026 World Cup, Kone showed out. Playing for France alongside bigger names like Aurelien Tchouameni, he actually outperformed his more famous teammate in key areas — passing under pressure, reading the play, covering ground laterally. His positional awareness stood out, especially in a French system that demands a lot from its midfielders.
“He has been a key player for Roma, he has become a trusted player under Didier Deschamps for France,” Graeme Bailey told TEAMtalk. “United feel he has matured, and that is appealing. Yes, he does not have Premier League experience, but they think he has everything they want and need.”
Bailey, a transfer correspondent for the outlet, called Kone “one of the more serious options” for United as they chase a third midfield signing.
The price tag and the player’s interest
Here’s where it gets interesting financially. Roma is reportedly willing to let Kone go for around £51 million. That fee — reasonable by modern Premier League standards — makes the deal even more attractive to United’s hierarchy. Especially compared to some of the astronomical asking prices floating around for midfielders with English top-flight experience.
And Kone himself? He’s reportedly open to the move. TEAMtalk sources say the midfielder’s camp has made it clear to Wilcox and United’s leadership that the club holds “huge appeal” for Kone. That kind of mutual interest can grease the wheels quickly.
Earlier today, The Peoples Person passed along a report from Italy claiming United is expected to make a formal offer for Kone within days. If that holds, this could move fast.
United still has time. The window is open. And after missing on Ederson, they seem determined not to settle for anything less than the specific physical profile Carrick wants at the base of midfield.
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