Roma Faces Koné Bids as Manchester United Shows Interest

The World Cup has barely settled into memory and Roma are already staring at the harsh reality of the market: Manu Koné is about to become the centre of a summer auction, and Manchester United are at the front of the queue.

La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that Roma expect “significant offers” for the midfielder, whose profile and age place him firmly in the Premier League’s crosshairs. United have him high on their list, alongside Eduardo Camavinga and Alex Scott, while Chelsea have also joined the chase.

Roma, though, are not walking into this blind.

Financial clock ticking in the capital

Gian Piero Gasperini has already admitted that the club will almost certainly have to sacrifice a key player to balance the books. The deadline for that sale has been pushed back by a month, to July 31, but the extension doesn’t change the underlying equation: at least one cornerstone must go.

Inside Trigoria, the preferred solution would actually be different. The Giallorossi would rather cash in on Matias Soulé. The problem? The market has not responded as hoped. Soulé has turned down a move to Saudi Arabia, and the kind of European bids Roma want have yet to arrive.

That brings the focus back to Koné.

Roma value him at €55–60 million. On the pitch, that figure reflects his status. On the balance sheet, it represents a potential goldmine. Koné is currently booked at just €12 million, so any major sale would generate a huge plusvalenza and ease the financial strain in one stroke.

United, Chelsea and the BlueCo angle

Manchester United’s interest is no secret. They are tracking Koné as part of a broader midfield reshuffle, with Camavinga and Scott also under consideration. Chelsea are in the mix as well, and their involvement adds a layer of intrigue given Roma’s stance toward the BlueCo network.

Roma are not only looking at outgoing deals. They are studying options under BlueCo’s control as possible replacements or squad reinforcements, using the web of ownership to their advantage if Koné’s sale materialises.

The capital club’s response to any big departure will not be passive.

Kessié, Thuram and a wider midfield plan

Roma are keeping a close eye on Frank Kessié and Khephren Thuram. Both would bring power and presence in the middle of the park, and both are seen as ways to reinforce after a bruising episode on the market: Juventus swooping in late to secure Zeki Celik.

That sting has sharpened Roma’s resolve. Celik himself could now leave for around €40 million, another potential piece in a complex financial puzzle.

The search does not stop there. Celtic’s Arne Engels has been shortlisted, with a price tag in the region of €20–25 million. Botafogo’s Danilo Santos is another name on the list, valued at roughly €30–35 million after featuring in Brazil’s World Cup squad. Each profile offers something different, but all fit the same logic: ready-made or near-ready options to step in if Koné walks out.

Roma know what is coming. The offers will arrive, the phone will ring, and the deadline of July 31 will edge closer.

The question now is not whether they sell a star – it is which one, and how cleverly they turn that sacrifice into the next version of this team.