Hugo Viana and Manchester City have added AS Roma's Manu Kone to their shortlist of potential summer midfield recruits for the final two weeks of the transfer window, according to reports.
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Despite the brand new Premier League season being just a matter of days away, with Manchester City kicking off their brand new era under Enzo Maresca against Marco Rose's Bournemouth at the Etihad Stadium, Hugo Viana - the club's sporting director - and his transfer planning is far from complete.
In a summer that has only seen one marquee signing in Elliot Anderson join the club in a £116 million transfer from Nottingham Forest, the big-name exits of Bernardo Silva, Rodri, and Tijjani Reijnders from midfield leave plenty of work to do this month.
Both midfielders departed this week alone for a combined total sum of around £110 million, while Newcastle United are understood to be in talks with Manchester City over a potential move for Spanish midfielder Nico Gonzalez.
Newcastle United are evaluating a prospective swoop for Manchester City midfielder Nico Gonzalez ahead of the September 1 transfer deadline, according to new reports.cityxtra.co.ukNewcastle United in Talks With Man City Over Nico Gonzalez Transfer
Newcastle United are evaluating a prospective swoop for Manchester City midfielder Nico Gonzalez ahead of the September 1 transfer deadline, according to new reports.
And the activity concerning outgoings does not stop there, with widespread reporting on Wednesday evening indicating advanced talks between Tottenham Hotspur and City over a potential double transfer to North London for Savinho and Omar Marmoush - likely to be worth a combined total north of £140 million.
As such, there is plenty for Hugo Viana and his Manchester City colleagues to complete in such a short space of time, and new reports have started to reveal the direction in which the club are heading with regards to their targets for the final two weeks of the summer window.
Man City target AS Roma's Manu Kone
According to the exclusive information of MailSport's Jack Gaughan, Manchester City have now identified AS Roma and France international midfielder Manu Kone as a potential signing
The 25-year-old, who featured five times for France during the recent FIFA World Cup in North America, has spent the past two years in Serie A whilst scoring four goals in 63 appearances for Roma.
Potentially bringing dynamism and off the ball capabilities to a Manchester City midfield in desperate need of a makeover, Kone reportedly has an asking price of £51 million at his current club - a very similar price to the one Al Qadsiah paid City to sign Reijnders this week.
Who else are Man City targeting?
Aside from Kone, and given the potential number of outgoings from the squad this summer, Manchester City are also expected to complete a big-money move for Lille’s Ayyoub Bouaddi within the coming days.
Etihad Stadium officials also remain interested in Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez, although an internal deadline at Stamford Bridge involving a £120 million 'release clause' on the Argentine star passed without a formal bid from Manchester City.
Fernandez himself is believed to personally want to link back up with Enzo Maresca, although Manchester City are understood to be unwilling to meet the demands currently set out by their counterparts in West London.
This is a developing story. More to follow.