Man United Has a Plan B for Midfield. His Name Is Manu Kone.

Manchester United’s summer shopping list keeps getting longer. And somewhere in the middle of it all, a French midfielder is now a serious contingency plan.

According to multiple reports, the club has made inquiries about AS Roma’s Manu Kone. The 25-year-old is currently at the World Cup with France, and his availability has caught the attention of United’s recruitment team. The reason? The Ederson deal from Atalanta might not be as locked in as everyone assumed.

United had a deal in place for Ederson Silva. The Brazilian midfielder even started the first part of his medical. That part seemed routine. But then things got a little fuzzy. ESPN Brasil journalist Felipe Silva posted that the Ederson operation is “stalled at this moment.” That sent a ripple of panic through parts of the fanbase. But other outlets, including TEAMtalk, say there are no actual issues. The deal is still on, they insist.

So here’s what we know for sure. United has already agreed to pay Chelsea around £50 million for Andrey Santos, who will also undergo a medical. That gives them two midfielders. But they want three. That third spot is where things get interesting.

TEAMtalk reports that Roma is open to selling Kone. The Italian club made Champions League qualification this season, but they still need to move players to satisfy UEFA’s financial rules. Kone is viewed as their most valuable tradeable asset. The asking price is around £50 million. That number keeps popping up, doesn’t it?

Ben Jacobs, a journalist for talkSPORT, told The United Stand that United has made inquiries. Not a full push yet. Just checking the temperature. Jacobs said: “Kone, they have made some enquiries. I am not sure that there’s that much more in it yet, but let’s see whether they react again if the Ederson deal is off. I don’t think that we can discount that one.”

Real Madrid has made Eduardo Camavinga available too, but sources indicate United’s staff prefers Kone’s profile. That’s a notable detail. Camavinga is younger and has Champions League pedigree. But Kone brings something different. Strength, work rate, and physicality in the middle of the park. United’s scouts seem to think he’s a better fit for what Ruben Amorim wants to build.