Manchester United are frantically scouring the market for suitable midfielders to add to Michael Carrick’s ranks this summer.
Depth across the squad is essential ahead of the side’s return to the Champions League, but particularly in the middle of the park.
United: The state of play this summer
Already this transfer window, United have missed out on priority target Elliot Anderson, who was adamant about joining Manchester City, and Mateus Fernandes, who signed for Tottenham Hotspur in a whopping £85 million switch from West Ham.
Now, it’s been revealed that long-standing target Aurelien Tchouameni is poised to sign a new deal with Real Madrid amid interest from United in recent weeks.
Reports from Spain suggested that INEOS chiefs had gone as far as flying to Madrid to hold talks with Los Blancos over a potential agreement until the 26-year-old decided to commit his future to the European heavyweights.
Tchouameni isn’t the only France star United have had their eye on, however, as TeamTalk claims the Red Devils are ‘plotting a move’ for AS Roma’s Manu Kone.
Manu Kone debut for France 🇫🇷pic.twitter.com/tRKwb1aGFF
— ASRomaComps (@roma_comps) September 7, 2024
INEOS set sights on France star Manu Kone
Kone, 25, is said to be ‘keen’ on testing himself in the Premier League after spending the last two years in Serie A.
Man United are considering a move for Manu Kone and have added the Roma midfielder to their shortlist after being informed he is keen to test himself in the Premier League, @TEAMtalk understands.https://t.co/awZR6aNfFo
— Graeme Bailey (@GraemeBailey) July 9, 2026
Prior to that, he represented Borussia Monchengladbach for four years, having joined them from Toulouse in 2021.
The Roma star is currently plying his trade at the World Cup and proving to be one of Didier Deschamps’ standout stars on the biggest stage in football.
🚨🗣️ | Italian journalist Francesca Teodori on Manu Kone:
“It’s not news, but it’s a fairly credible rumour. I’ve been told by multiple sources that he’ll leave Roma in June and join #MUFC .”
ASRomaLive, @Sport_Witness
Manu Kone – 8 minute comp👇pic.twitter.com/eonyHSiD5S
— 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐔𝐭𝐝 𝐀𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐯𝐞 (@TheUtdArchive) December 26, 2025
He has made three starts thus far, all of which were wins, and completed the full 90 minutes in all of them.
This included France’s hard-fought 1-0 victory over a physical and overpowering Paraguay side in the last-16, which secured their progression to tonight’s quarter-final against Morocco.
Kone will be hoping he’s done enough to retain his place. If so, INEOS are sure to be watching on from home to see how he fares in the crunch affair.
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