Chelsea makes Manu Koné top priority with €50m+ bid before transfer deadline

Chelsea has positioned itself as favourite to sign Manu Koné, AS Roma midfielder, in the final hours of the summer transfer window. According to journalist Fabrice Hawkins, the French international (25 years old, 19 caps) is “very high on the Blues’ shortlist, who have made him a priority target for the position”.

The deal is gathering momentum as the deadline approaches. According to Santi Aouna of Foot Mercato, this recruitment would respond to the imminent departure of Enzo Fernandez to Manchester City, leaving a void in the heart of London’s midfield that Chelsea intends to fill without delay.

The cost of the operation promises to be substantial. An initial offer of €40m made by Atlético Madrid had already been rejected by Roma, which places the player’s floor price well above that sum. The total transfer fee could exceed €50 million.

Time is running out: all parties will need to reach an agreement before Tuesday 8pm, the official close of the summer transfer window. Just hours earlier, Koné seemed destined for another season in Roma colours.