manu kone gittens fofana
Gian Piero Gasperini is single-handedly responsible for stopping a triple deal involving Roma, Chelsea and AC Milan.
La Gazzetta dello Sport report that the plan was for Manu Kone to head to Chelsea, with winger Jamie Gittens going the other way to Roma, and Youssouf Fofana also going to the Italian capital to replace his compatriot in the middle of the park.
Gasperini – with the support of sporting director Tony D’Amico – has ‘completely torn apart’ what could have been the most fascinating chapter of deadline day. Tuesday morning began with the shocking news from London: the Friedkins had been contacted directly by Chelsea’s owners about Kone.
They wanted him to replace Enzo Fernandez, who is heading to Manchester. The deal was set: €60m plus a loan with an option to buy for Gittens, the left winger Gasperini had strongly sought and who remainsa target in the final hours of the transfer window.
Gasperini stops the lot
The meeting to finalize the details was scheduled for 12:00 CEST, but then the news reached Gasperini, who was furious this morning. The manager had already been clear yesterday: “No one has spoken to me about sales, and with 24 hours to go until the transfer window closes, they shouldn’t be considered.”
Youssouf Fofana Milan
Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images
This is also because Koné is central to Gasperini’s game and was among the best players in yesterday’s 4-0 victory over Lecce. Gasperini and D’Amico immediately contacted the Friedkins and arranged for the deal to be put on hold, before finally falling through.
In the meantime, however, Roma had begun exploring potential replacements for Koné, especially Fofana, who is on his way out of Milan. The Rossoneri had been contacted to see if this could be an emergency solution, given he is also close to joining Lyon.
Milan had reportedly given Roma the green light for the midfielder, who has been considered surplus to requirements for weeks and remains on the way out in these final hours of the transfer window. Chelsea’s rejection of Koné has also put a stop to this deal.