Chelsea are now poised to make a January move for AS Roma star Manu Kone, and they are determined to get a deal over the line.
The Blues made contact regarding a deal for Kone during the summer, at which point he was valued at £50m by Roma, but they ultimately ended up pursuing AS Monaco star Lamine Camara as a replacement for Enzo Fernandez.
However, with the Camara deal breaking down on deadline day, Xabi Alonso will need to bring in another central midfielder, and the Roma maestro could be an exciting addition, given the level of his performances this season.
The Frenchman is averaging 60.6 accurate passes per 90 in the Serie A, which showcases his ability in possession of the ball, and he has created six chances, the third-highest number in the Roma squad.
Scout Jacek Kulig is a big fan of the 25-year-old too, describing him as a “one-man army in midfield” after an impressive performance against Bayern Munich, while Como scout Ben Mattinson has praised his ability to win possession.
Reece James has been deployed in central midfield this season, and Alonso has praised his performances, saying: “He is very comfortable and confident playing in that position. He has the intelligence to play there because, in the middle, you need to be able to connect with your team-mates and know what the best thing to do is before you get the ball.
“He has this awareness. I remember him playing very, very well playing in the middle. So we are using him and he will have a lot of minutes as a midfielder.”
However, considering James is a right-back by trade, it could be a savvy move to sign another central midfielder in January, and there has now been a fresh update on the Blues’ pursuit of Kone.
Chelsea planning January move for Manu Kone
According to a report from TuttoMercatoWeb, Chelsea are set to make a move for Kone this winter, and they are determined to get a deal done.
However, Liverpool have now entered the race for the former Borussia Monchengladbach man, and have made contact about a potential deal, so there is growing competition.
Roma have been reluctant to sell the France international up to this point, and they remain in a strong negotiating position, as he is under contract until 2029, so it may take a big offer to tempt the Italian side into a sale.
Source: www.footballfancast.com
