Chelsea have been linked with a transfer bid for a World Cup star who could replace Enzo Fernández this summer.
Not that there are many quiet transfer windows at Stamford Bridge, but this summer seems set to be an especially hectic period for Chelsea. Several players seem likely to leave the club after they again failed to qualify for the Champions League, and the club’s recruitment team are working overtime to find both replacements as the players that new manager Xabi Alonso needs to get things moving.
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Marc Cucurella is gone and Malo Gusto, Liam Delap and Travoh Chalobah are among the players who could be on their way out, but one player’s potential departure looms especially large – that of Enzo Fernández, who looks increasingly likely to get his very public wish to move to Real Madrid. Fortunately for Chelsea, they may have the perfect replacement lined up: AS Roma and France star Manu Koné.
Chelsea chasing Manu Koné in the summer transfer window – reports
Roma signed Koné from Borussia Mönchengladbach for an estimated €18mplaceholder image
Roma signed Koné from Borussia Mönchengladbach for an estimated €18m | Getty Images
A report published on Friday by Sport Witness has become the latest to suggest that Chelsea are tracking Koné’s situation as it begins to look increasingly likely that he might leave Roma this summer – and although they aren’t alone in their interest, there is mounting evidence that the 25-year-old is among their top targets to replace the Madrid-bound Fernández.
Several media sources in Italy have reported that Chelsea are keen to sign Koné, while Roma seem resigned to losing him as a result of their financial issues – and their asking price, supposedly set at around the €45m (£39m) mark, is exceptionally reasonable. Given that Chelsea are alleged to be asking for £120m for Fernández, they could net a profit of around £80m if they sell one and buy the other.
Perhaps the biggest barrier to a deal for Koné, who is currently at the World Cup with France, is the interest of other teams. Arsenal are interested, Liverpool have cropped up in the gossip columns, and Atlético Madrid appear to have had an initial bid rejected already.
Arsenal seem to have prioritised Lille wonderkid Ayyoub Bouaddi while Liverpool have other names on their shortlist too, so Atlético could present the stiffest competition that Chelsea face – but it’s suggested in Sport Witness’ reporting that Koné would prefer a move to the Premier League.
That puts Chelsea in a strong position, although its not clear as to whether they will make a move before they’ve sold Fernández – or indeed whether Koné is their clear number one target. He is certainly not the only midfielder they have been monitoring.
With the chances that a deal can be struck seemingly high, however, Koné could well end up being a clear target for Chelsea. But is he the kind of player who could successfully replace Fernández?
Is Manu Koné the perfect replacement for Enzo Fernández?
Koné has 15 caps and was a member of their 2024 Olympic squadplaceholder image
Koné has 15 caps and was a member of their 2024 Olympic squad | Getty Images
While the finances of a deal for Koné would make him appealing all on their own – Chelsea continue to sail close to the wind with UEFA’s spending rules, although the lack of European competition makes that less of an immediate concern than it might have been.
But it helps that Koné has a very similar playing style to Fernández, at least in terms of the way that the Argentine operates when he plays in a deeper role. Both are players who cover large amounts of ground as box-to-box players, and who look to find space in the final third in similar ways.
Koné is rather less likely to be effective as a number 10, admittedly, and his greatest strengths are in defence – although he has more than enough dynamism to progress play and to support the attack effectively.
The Frenchman, who played the full 90 minutes during France’s second World Cup group stage game against Iraq, completed more tackles, forced more turnovers and won more one-on-one duels than Fernández did per game last season, and is a more effective dribbler who beats his man more frequently. Where Fernández exceeds Koné, however, is in his end product.
Where the Argentine scored 15 goals and created another seven for Chelsea during the 2025/26 season, Koné was rather less lethal – he scored just two and provided three assists in all competitions for Roma, exactly the same totals he managed the season before. He is a fine player with a well-rounded skillset, but perhaps not quite so well-rounded as the player he might replace at Stamford Bridge.
Perhaps some of that hypothetical £80m profit would have to go towards signing some reinforcements for the number 10 position for the trade to be entirely worthwhile – but Koné could end up being a very good value signing in his own right, and a very worthy replacement for one of Chelsea’s most important players.
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