Manchester United has jumped to the front of the pack in the race for AS Roma midfielder Manu Kone, according to Italian reports. The 25-year-old French international is coming off a strong World Cup campaign and has been on United’s radar for a defensive midfield role.
Kone made 37 appearances for Roma last season and played five times for France in North America. At 6’1″, he’s got the build to hold up in the Premier League and the mobility to cover ground between the lines. European football analyst Andy Brassell has called him “enormously underrated,” which tracks with the way his game tends to fly under the mainstream radar despite consistent performances.
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, United is in “pole position” to land him this summer. The paper says Kone is planning a holiday after France’s World Cup exit, but his phone won’t be silent — Premier League interest has picked up significantly in the last 48 hours.
The price tag is reportedly around €55 million. Roma signed him to a contract running through 2029, so they’re in no rush to sell, but the report suggests the club sees this as a chance to generate a meaningful capital gain and settle some financial obligations with UEFA. Roma manager Gian Piero Gasperini has even acknowledged the situation publicly.
United’s interest is described as very real, and Kone apparently wants to test himself in England. He’s also been linked with Atletico Madrid, but multiple reports indicate he turned them down in favor of a Premier League move.
The Red Devils are also keeping tabs on Real Madrid’s Eduardo Camavinga and Bournemouth’s Alex Scott, but Kone appears to be the priority target right now. La Gazzetta adds that Chelsea shouldn’t be ruled out either — they’ve been monitoring the situation and could jump in if United hesitates.
Kone isn’t the flashiest name on the market, but he fits a clear need. United’s midfield has lacked a true ball-winning presence who can also progress play, and Kone does both. He’s comfortable under pressure, reads the game well without the ball, and has the engine to cover the kind of ground the Premier League demands.
For Roma, selling him now would be good business. For United, it’s a move that makes sense on paper. Whether it happens depends on how quickly they move.
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