FOOTBALL
By Animesh Pandey
Posted on July 1, 2026 6:00 pm | Updated on July 1, 2026 3:00 pm Manu Kone considers a move to Chelsea even as Arsenal shows interest in the French midfielder
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Chelsea and Arsenal are set for a transfer clash, as per latest news. The Blues will compete with the Gunners for the French midfielder Manu Kone.
Kone considering a Premier League debut?
As reported by CaughtOffside, the 25-year-old Kone is considering a move to UK. This boosts **the Blues’**chances for a potential transfer deal with AS Roma [for whom Kone currently plays]. Additionally, Arsenal are interested in buying the French midfielder. It would be interesting to see which club Kone chooses for his potential Premier League debut.
Kone was acquired by AS Roma from Borussia Monchengladbach for a total deal of €20 million in 2025. The German club loaned him out to Roma from 2024 to 2025. Before that, he played for Borussia Monchengladbach between 2021 and 2025.
Kone’s stats for the 2025-26 season, as per FOTMOB:
Competitions Matches Goals Assists Successful Passes Passing Accuracy
Serie A 29 3 2 1239 90%
UEFA Europa League 7 0 0 151 90%
How will Manu Kone’s potential entry reward Chelsea?
Kone will strengthen the West London club’s midfield if he agrees to the transfer deal. He could also be a suitable replacement for attacking midfielder Enzo Fernandez. This is because the Argentine midfielder is leaving Stamford Bridge after the 2025-26 season.
Kone performed decently for AS Roma last year at the Italian Serie A. The Italian club finished third overall in the Serie A. They also made it to the Round of 16 in both Coppa Italia and the UEFA Europa League.
Meanwhile, Chelsea are undergoing a tactical evolution under new manager Xabi Alonso. The West London club won the Club World Cup title for the second time since 2021. They also finished runners-up in the FA Cup. However, they also finished in 10th place at the 2025-26 Premier League. Naturally, Alonso cannot afford to repeat the mistakes of his predecessors.
Future gameplan for Manu Kone
Kone is focused on his aim to win back the FIFA World Cup for France. The French midfielder has an impressive record in international football.
He was a part of the French team which finished third in the 2025 UEFA Euro Nations League finals. He was also a part of the team that won the silver medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Meanwhile Les Bleus have qualified for the Round of 16 in the ongoing FIFA World Cup. They defeated Sweden 3-0.
The French midfielder has nothing much to worry about in terms of discipline issues. However, he needs to improve his fitness. He sustained a grade-II tear to his left thigh flexor in March 2026. This kept him out of action for at least four weeks. However, he recovered quickly before the World Cup.
Chelsea need strong midfielders for the upcoming season. Team manager Alonso knows that it won’t be easy It would be difficult for Alonso to regroup the team. That’s why he needs players like Kone. He played a crucial role in the midfield for Roma last year. That’s also the reason he was chosen for the French squad ahead of the World Cup.
If Kone agrees to the transfer deal with Chelsea, he could team up with manager Alonso and help the Blues get back to winning ways. It would be interesting to see if Kone actually agrees to the deal or not. He knows knows that he cannot let go of a such a golden opportunity.
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Animesh Pandey
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