Manchester City have now made contact to sign a player who's already agreed to join Arsenal this summer.
While their Premier League rivals have sprung into action, it has been a quieter start to the summer transfer window for Arsenal and City.
City are still yet to confirm Enzo Maresca as Pep Guardiola's successor at the Etihad, but they have been hard at work behind the scenes trying to complete a mega agreement to sign Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest.
Meanwhile, Arsenal probably only need to make some tweaks to their squad after such a successful season, but Mikel Arteta will be looking to add players to his squad that can take them to yet another level next term as they look to defend their Premier League title and go one better in the Champions League.
The Gunners look set to add numbers to their attack this summer, with the north Londoners being linked with moves for Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers and Atletico Madrid's Julian Alvarez in recent weeks.
Arsenal are also working to find an agreement with Leicester City to sign 16-year-old sensation Jeremy Monga, but it is unclear whether he would be competing in the first-team yet or not if a deal went through.
The Gunners have also been looking at midfield additions for Arteta.
Man City Make Manu Kone Enquiry
Manu Kone Romavia Reuters
According to journalist Damiano Er Faina, posting on X on Thursday evening, Manchester City have now made over signing French midfielder Manu Kone from AS Roma.
Even though are now closing in on an agreement to sign England star Anderson, it is being widely reported that they want another central midfielder too, with Sandro Tonali of Newcastle United another name mentioned.
Arsenal themselves are looking to reinforce that position with a lack of quality in depth shown last season when they lost players to injury, with Kone emerging as a target.
Reports from Italy earlier this month suggested that the Gunners were closing in on a deal to sign the 25-year-old with personal terms already agreed for him to move to the Emirates.
England World Cup Quiz
You scored
↩ Play again
Which Other Midfielders Are Arsenal Targeting?
England's Alex Scott smiles in a press conference
World Cup - UEFA Qualifiers - England Press Conference - Tottenham Hotspur Training Centre, London, Britain - November 11, 2025 England's Alex Scott during the press conference Pool via REUTERS/Bradley Collyer
via Reuters
Kone isn't the only name reportedly on Arsenal's central midfield radar this summer, with Alex Scott of Bournemouth someone they like a lot.
GIVEMESPORT sources have revealed the Gunners' interest in the £80m-rated England international, who the Cherries are desperate to tie down to a new contract with his current deal set to expire in 2028.
Reports in Portugal claim that they are also considering making a move for Sporting Lisbon captain Morten Hjulmand, whose boyhood dream was to play for Arsenal.
Whether the Gunners firm up their reported interest in Kone or not, Arteta and Andrea Berta certainly seem to have other names on their shortlist should Man City swoop in and bring him to the Premier League themselves.