Manu Kone has made it clear that his preference is to join a Premier League club this summer, having already rejected a move to Atletico Madrid. The Roma midfielder, currently impressing at the World Cup for France, is now a primary target for Manchester United after their deal for Ederson fell through.
Kone's World Cup Performances Attract Premier League Interest
The 25-year-old delivered an outstanding midfield display as France secured a semi-final spot by defeating Morocco. His performances have caught the attention of several top clubs, including Arsenal, who have shown interest but appear focused on signing Bruno Guimaraes from Newcastle United.
Manchester United's interest in Kone has intensified following the collapse of their move for Ederson. A fee of £35 million plus £3.8 million in add-ons had been agreed for the Atalanta midfielder in June, and he underwent an initial medical before being called up to Brazil's World Cup squad as a late replacement for the injured right-back Wesley. However, after Brazil's elimination, Ederson had a second medical with United, after which the Premier League side decided not to proceed with the deal.
United's Midfield Rebuild Plans
United are already wrapping up a £50 million move for Brazilian midfielder Andrey Santos from Chelsea. Manager Michael Carrick is aiming to add up to three new midfielders to his squad this summer. With Manuel Ugarte facing a spell on the sidelines, the need for reinforcements has become more pressing.
According to reports in Italy, United's interest in Kone has stepped up considerably over the last 24 hours. Gazzetta dello Sport reports that United have identified the France international as their next midfield target and are preparing a 'significant' offer. Roma is demanding €50 million (£42.6 million) for the player.
Kone's Preference for Premier League
Arsenal and Newcastle remain interested, while Atletico Madrid had prioritized a move for Kone at the end of June. However, Kone's preference for a Premier League move has led Atletico to turn their attention to Sporting CP captain Morten Hjulmand. Kone has already turned down a move to the Spanish club.
Kone's performances at the World Cup have enhanced his reputation, with Arsenal legend Patrick Vieira expressing admiration. 'He has come into the World Cup with a couple of injuries and it has been a quite difficult season for him,' Vieira told ITV. 'But he is for me, the best midfielder in France today. I would put him ahead of Aurelien Tchouameni and Adrien Rabiot because he has got this mobility to move around the pitch. He is aggressive, he is a ball winner and he has got this technical ability to be part of the build-up. He can break lines and play forward.'
United are seeking to rebuild their midfield this summer and want to sign at least two midfielders, possibly three. Kone's availability and preference for the Premier League make him a prime target as the transfer window progresses.
