United close in on Kone as £45m fee agreed and Gomes leaves Wolves for medical

Manchester United are closing in on a third midfield signing of the summer after a £45m fee was reportedly agreed with Roma for France international Manu Kone, with the deal emerging just days after the club confirmed the arrivals of Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos.

The claim comes from former United and England defender Rio Ferdinand, who stated on his YouTube channel that the club had structured a £45m agreement to bring Kone to Old Trafford. “Fabrizio Romano just confirmed that Man Utd have agreed a £45m fee for Kone from Roma, the French international midfielder,” Ferdinand said. Romano himself has confirmed United have been in contact with Kone’s representatives but stopped short of declaring a full agreement between the two clubs.

Kone’s profile rose sharply during the World Cup 2026, where the Roma man was one of the standout performers for France. United’s interest is understood to be driven in part by the need for a more defensively minded midfield operator following Casemiro’s departure and the collapse of a proposed move for Atalanta’s Ederson. Santos, who joined from Chelsea for £50m, can fulfil a similar role but is seen as lacking comparable experience at the highest level.

Aston Villa had also been strongly linked with Kone, particularly after losing Tielemans to United, but the Red Devils appear to have moved quickly enough to edge ahead in the race.

Elsewhere, Joao Gomes has departed Wolves’ pre-season training camp to undergo a medical, with Villa understood to have won the battle for his signature. The Brazilian midfielder’s move to Molineux rivals would represent a significant piece of business for Unai Emery’s side as they look to reinforce their own engine room ahead of the new campaign.

United manager Michael Carrick is believed to want further additions beyond the midfield, with the club preparing for their pre-season tour. The pace of activity at Old Trafford suggests the summer rebuild is accelerating rapidly.