Koné transfer battle sees Manchester United lead Liverpool, Arsenal, and Chelsea
Quick summary
Manchester United are reportedly leading the race to sign Koné, ahead of Premier League rivals Liverpool, Arsenal, and Chelsea.
Full article
Attributed to original sourceRoma are actively working to sell Manu Koné for at least €60m, with reports in Italy claiming Manchester United are ahead of Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal for the France midfielder.
His asking price had already been a minimum of €50m before the World Cup , but has since surged thanks to his impressive performances, as confirmed by how badly he was missed in the semi-final against Spain when making way for Aurelien Tchaouameni.
Koné targeted by Premier League EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – JUNE 30: Manu Kone #6 of France inspects the pitch before the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round Of 32 match between France and Sweden at New York New Jersey Stadium on June 30, 2026 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Mattia Ozbot/Getty Images) There are some suggestions in England, most notably from Rio Ferdinand on his YouTube channel, that Manchester United have already agreed a deal worth €53m.
That is not the version given by the Corriere dello Sport , who insist that while Manchester United have been the most consistently interested and taken more steps, they are by no means the only club.
PARIS, FRANCE – NOVEMBER 13: Manu Kone of France in action during the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between France and Ukraine at Parc des Princes on November 13, 2025 in Paris, France. (Photo by Franco Arland/Getty Images) Others from the Premier League to have contacted Roma to ask for information are Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea, along with Atletico Madrid in LaLiga.
Above all, the price is not going to drop below €60m (approximately £51m) after those performances in the 2026 World Cup.
The 25-year-old is going to provide a hefty profit regardless, as he was purchased from Borussia Monchengladbach in the summer of 2024 for just €18m plus €2m in add-ons.
His World Cup is not over yet, as Koné and France will play in Saturday’s third-place final, but after that he can begin to work in earnest on the next step of his career.
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What happened
Multiple top Premier League clubs — Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal, and Chelsea — are competing for the signature of Koné. According to reports, Manchester United currently lead the pursuit, though the player has yet to make a final decision. The article, published on football-italia.net, suggests the player is likely based in Italy, making this a potential cross-league transfer. Competition between these four clubs could drive up the fee significantly.
Chance analysis
A four-way Premier League bidding war for a single target typically increases transfer leverage for the selling club and inflates the price. With Manchester United reportedly in pole position, this could signal a near-term squad reinforcement move, potentially reshaping their summer or winter window plans. Liverpool, Arsenal, and Chelsea remaining in contention means the race is fluid, but a decision from any of these sides would have ripple effects on their respective transfer strategies and positional depth.
If Manchester United secure Koné, their attacking depth improves, while a rival signing would similarly bolster Liverpool, Arsenal, or Chelsea's forward line.
Monitor Koné's transfer status closely as a move to a top-6 Premier League side would impact that club's attacking options and affect future match predictions.