Patrice Evra has urged Arsenal to prioritise the signing of France midfielder Manu Kone over Newcastle captain Bruno Guimaraes, praising the Roma star's suitability for the Premier League.
Evra backs Kone for Arsenal move
Speaking to Stake, the former Manchester United defender said: 'I like Manu Kone's profile for the Premier League. He has energy, he carries the ball, he likes duels and he works for the team. Those things matter in England.'
Arsenal are seeking to strengthen their central midfield options as they prepare to defend the Premier League title. The club had been linked with Mateus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali, but both players opted to join Tottenham instead. The Gunners have also shown interest in Bruno Guimaraes, with a second bid expected after Newcastle rejected a £55million offer for their captain.
Kone's World Cup impact and price tag
Kone has played a crucial role in helping France reach the World Cup quarter-finals. Reports in Italy before the tournament suggested Arsenal had already agreed personal terms with the 25-year-old, with Roma demanding at least €50million (£43m). That asking price may have increased following his performances in the World Cup.
'The Premier League is faster. You don't get time to breathe. So the important thing is adaptation. Don't judge him after five games,' Evra added. 'If he goes to Arsenal with a manager who knows how to use him, I think he can do well. He has the tools. Then it is about consistency.'
Vieira hails Kone as France's best midfielder
Former Arsenal midfielder Patrick Vieira has also praised Kone, labelling him the 'best midfielder in France'. Speaking on ITV, Vieira said: 'He has come into the World Cup with a couple of injuries and it has been a quite difficult season for him. 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.'
Vieira highlighted Kone's aggressive style, ball-winning ability, and technical skills: '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 focused on World Cup amid transfer speculation
When asked about the intense speculation over his future ahead of France's World Cup opener against Senegal, Kone said: 'Honestly, right now I'm only thinking about the World Cup. 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.'
