Manchester United now have a perfect home for young players who need first-team exposure thanks to the influence of Ineos.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s investment in Manchester United meant joining the Ineos group, which already featured two other teams.
OGC Nice were the more high-profile of the two, with Ineos completing a takeover of the French side in 2019.
Ineos had already taken steps into football ownership, though, having purchased Swiss club Lausanne-Sport two years earlier.
A fifth-place finish in the Swiss Super League represented a strong season for Lausanne-Sport, who are now close to signing one United talent on loan, and another could follow.
Sekou Kone lunges for the ball in action for Manchester United.
Photo by PETER PARKS/AFP via Getty Images
Lausanne-Sport want Manchester United talent Sekou Kone
Reports suggest that United will sign Enzo Kana-Biyik from Le Havre this summer, with the teenage striker set to be confirmed as a United player.
Striker Kana-Biyik is expected to join Lausanne-Sport on loan when he arrives in Manchester, and that may not be the only deal between the two Ineos clubs.
Lausanne-Sport were leading the race for Sekou Kone, emerging as the potentially perfect home for United’s young midfielder.
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United signed Kone from Guidars FC in Mali, with the 19-year-old featuring in Premier League 2 action this past season.
There are high hopes for Kone at Old Trafford, but the teenager may need a loan move to really kick on with his career.
Reports from L’Equipe’s Loic Tanzi note that Lausanne-Sport are now working to secure Kone on loan for the 2025-26 season.
Lausanne-Sport are trying to land midfielder Chris-Kevin Nadje from Feyenoord, but there is no deal with the Dutch club despite agreeing terms with the player.
That deal is stalling, and Lausanne-Sport are now moving for Kone, though it’s unclear whether he would be an alternative to Nadje or an additional signing.
‘Despite the player’s agreement with Lausanne, the Swiss club has still not reached an agreement with Feyenoord. In the meantime, Lausanne is trying to secure a loan for Sekou Koné (19 years old – Manchester United)’ wrote Tanzi.
United are unlikely to block a loan move to Lausanne-Sport given the Ineos link between the two clubs, and could see a move to Switzerland as being ideal for his development.
If Kone does finalise a move to Lausanne-Sport, he would have the chance to play European football.
Lausanne-Sport’s fifth-place finish means they have booked a place in the second qualifying round for the UEFA Conference League.
Swiss side Lugano reached the Round of 16 last season, and Lausanne-Sport will hope to emulate their success.
Playing regular European football, even in the Conference League, would be a great test for Kone as he adjusts to life in Europe.
The Ineos link means United talents will always be linked with loan moves to Lausanne-Sport, but sending Kone and Kana-Biyik there for first-team exposure is a potentially ideal double move this summer.