Manchester United Eyes Third Midfielder as INEOS Greenlights £50m Kone Deal Manchester United are set to finalize a £50m move for Roma midfielder Manu Kone, marking their third major signing of the summer transfer window. The deal, which has received the green light from INEOS, comes after the club confirmed agreements for Ederson (from Atalanta) and Andrey Santos (from Chelsea), with the combined fee for the two players totaling around £85m. Kone, a 25-year-old defensive midfielder, has emerged as a serious target following Roma’s willingness to sell him at the specified price. Kone, who joined Roma from Borussia Monchengladbach in 2024 for under £20m, has become a key asset for the Serie A side. Despite securing Champions League qualification, Roma faces financial pressures from UEFA regulations, making Kone their most valuable saleable player. The club has already engaged intermediaries to discuss potential destinations, with Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City, and Liverpool all shown interest. Kone, who played 37 matches for Roma last season and contributed two goals and three assists, has expressed enthusiasm for a move to England if the right opportunity arises. United’s pursuit of Kone follows the collapse of their bid for Real Madrid’s Aurelien Tchouameni. Despite initial hopes, Mourinho confirmed that Tchouameni would remain at Real Madrid, with the club offering him a new contract through to 2031. This development forced United to explore alternatives, leading to Kone’s rise on their shortlist. The club’s recruitment team has also considered other options, including Brighton’s Carlos Baleba, Bournemouth’s Alex Scott, and Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton, but inflated valuations for Premier League players have hindered progress. The £50m fee for Kone aligns with United’s financial flexibility.#manchester_united #real_madrid #ineos #romas #manu_kone
