Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United were all credited with an interest in signing Manu Kone throughout the summer transfer window, including on deadline day
Manu Kone during a Roma training session
Liverpool were one of multiple clubs credited with an interest in Manu Kone during this summer(Image: AS Roma via Getty Images)
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Liverpool reportedly like Manu Kone as a potential future option after the France international stayed at Roma this summer. The Reds are also said to be one of multiple clubs that like Lamine Camara, both of whom Chelsea apparently tried to sign on transfer deadline day.
Manchester United were also credited with an interest in Kone throughout the summer transfer window. However, they instead signed Andrey Santos, Carlos Baleba and Youri Tielemans as part of their midfield overhaul.
Liverpool did not sign a single midfielder this summer, despite selling Curtis Jones and Stefan Bajcetic. However, the Reds apparently have options.
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The Athletic claims Kone is one of them and also reports on interest in Camara. Monaco chief executive Thiago Scuro acknowledged in a press conference after the transfer window closed that "we've been approached (about Camara) by several clubs during the summer.
"The message has always been the same: that our priority is that he stays. Even yesterday morning, after the training session, we had a conversation with Lamine directly, which was very OK and friendly, where he also showed the desire to stay."
However, the Folarin Balogun debacle was going on at Everton. Scuro recalls: "Chelsea saw the opportunity.
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"'OK, Monaco needs money. Balo is struggling there. Let's go. Let's try. And this is the game. It's fair to play this game. There is no problem. Chelsea came and said, 'Here, I can be here for the solution.' And at this moment, we had to open the door for the discussion.
He said that the club "started to open negotiations with Chelsea for Lamine" on deadline day. "We had discussions about the conditions for Lamine to go to Chelsea," Scuro explained.
Monaco's CEO continued: "Chelsea was always testing and trying. 'What about Lamine? What about Lamine?'
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"I've been talking to them for the last 10 days." As soon as we got the information, yes, we did come back to Chelsea and said, 'OK, we have our deal there'."
However, a move eventually did not materialise. Scuro said: "We informed everyone again that there was no deal with Chelsea."
As for Kone, the Roma sporting director Tony D'Amico said: "I said it would be difficult for us to deprive ourselves of important players so near to the end of the transfer session, and that proved to be the case. Kone is an important player; we're happy that he remained with us."