Manchester United have already bolstered their midfield this week with the signings of Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans, but French World Cup star Manu Kone must be the next acquisition, according to reports.
Carrick's Midfield Revolution
After guiding United to a top-four finish last season, Michael Carrick has finally been rewarded by the club's hierarchy. In just one week, three new names have been added to his squad, revolutionising his midfield. The £50million signing of Santos from Chelsea provides a young, raw box-to-box talent, while Tielemans' arrival from Aston Villa adds a Premier League-proven deep-lying playmaker. Goalkeeper Karl Darlow also joins to provide depth.
The Missing Piece: Manu Kone
Kobbie Mainoo is all but guaranteed to be the linchpin of Carrick's double-pivot. But with Casemiro gone, the boss could do with a more physical, dynamic midfielder who can comfortably drop into No. 6 spaces. Kone is that player.
Roma's Kone made his professional debut for Toulouse in 2019, but it was with German club Borussia Monchengladbach where he truly thrived. There, he proved to be an outstanding No. 8 who excelled at carrying the ball up the pitch and wriggling out of tight spaces. He moved to Serie A in 2024 and quickly became indispensable, proving vital in Roma's third-place finish last term. But the club's dire financial situation means that a sale this summer is likely.
Cut-Price Deal Available
Kone impressed for France at the World Cup before their semi-final elimination at the hands of Spain. The Manchester Evening News spoke to an Italian football expert who feels that he could move for as little as £45m. However, United were warned that plenty of other clubs could swoop soon. With Kone being such a superb fit, they must make their move quickly to seal a cut-price deal.
Addressing Physical Frailty
If Mainoo, Tielemans and Santos, as well as potentially Mason Mount if he stays put, are to be Carrick's only midfield options, there is a glaring frailty. All of these players lack a true physical presence and are, for all intents and purposes, under six feet tall, with Mainoo's low-slung dribbling style making his six-foot frame often feel much shorter.
Casemiro has left and with Manuel Ugarte injured and not up to standard anyway, a player with tight-space strength as well as technical quality is missing. Kone fills the gap. If he were to be deployed next to Mainoo in the double-pivot, he could provide the recovery runs and athletic range that the young Englishman often lacks.
Perfect Fit for Carrick's System
This would give United two players who are brilliant at receiving the ball under pressure and prosper in a possession-heavy system like Carrick's. At 25, Kone is at the peak of his powers, boasts one of Serie A's best pass completion rates and would add a drop of long-striding athleticism into an engine room that lacks just that.
This midfield quartet completely covers Ugarte's absence and replaces Casemiro's steel with younger, more athletic legs. Carrick would also have a tactical playground where he can perfectly counter any opponent's weaknesses.
If Kone is snapped up for the estimated price, United will also have built a midfield with the depth and versatility to cope in the Champions League for £131m, just £15m more than what Elliot Anderson cost Manchester City.
