Patrick Vieira has lavished praise on Arsenal transfer target Manu Kone, describing him as the 'best midfielder in France.' Mikel Arteta is keen to add a midfielder to his squad this summer with Roma star Kone firmly on the club's radar.
Arsenal's Pursuit of Manu Kone
The 25-year-old has just finished his second season with the Giallorossi and while Inter Milan are also keen, the Gunners have emerged as front runners. Reports in Italy suggest Arsenal have already held talks with Kone's representatives and agreed personal terms over a summer move to north London. The Premier League champions must now agree a fee with Roma if they decide to move forward, with the Serie A side looking for at least €50million (£43m) for the midfielder.
Vieira's Verdict
Kone's current focus is on the World Cup, starting for France in Friday's final group match against Norway. Former Arsenal captain Vieira was on punditry duty for ITV and ahead of kick-off, revealed his huge admiration for the Roma star. Kone started alongside Real Madrid star Aurelien Tchouaméni, wanted by Manchester United this summer, while keeping Adrien Rabiot out of the side. Marvelling over his skillset, Vieira hailed Kone a better midfielder than both of his countrymen.
'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.'
Kone's Focus on the World Cup
Kone was asked about the intense speculation over his future ahead of France's World Cup opener against Senegal and said he was keen to remain 'exclusively focused' on his commitments with Les Bleus. 'Honestly, right now I'm only thinking about the World Cup,' Kone said. 'It's my first major international competition, a tournament I've always dreamed of playing in. I want to remain exclusively focused on this. We'll talk about the future after the World Cup and see what happens.'
What This Means for Arsenal
Arsenal's interest in Kone signals their intent to strengthen midfield depth after winning the Premier League. With personal terms reportedly agreed, the key hurdle remains negotiating a fee with Roma. Vieira's endorsement adds weight to Kone's credentials, comparing him favourably to high-profile midfielders like Tchouaméni and Rabiot. Arsenal fans will be eager to see if the club can finalise the deal post-World Cup.
