Chelsea Will Now Have To Pay £34M More To Sign Midfield Target After Deadline Day Deal Collapsed
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Chelsea transfer target Manu Kone is “now worth €100m”, according to reports in the Italian media.
The Corriere Dello Sport claim that the French international’s strong start to the season will lead to Roma jacking up his asking price.
Kone has played a pivotal role in helping the Giallorossi’s rise to the top of the Serie A table, having won 4 and drawn 1 of their 5 fixtures so far.
The 25-year-old scored a brace as Gian Piero Gasperini’s side held reigning champions Inter Milan to a 2-2 draw at the Stadio Olimpico at the weekend.
Chelsea came “close” to signing the player on Deadline Day
Sky Sports reported on September 1st that the Blues were “close to an agreement to sign” Kone from Roma for £52m. He had also been pursued by Liverpool and Manchester United.
At the time, it is believed that head coach Gasperini was the one who pulled the plug on the deal, as there would not have been time to find a replacement.
If Kone’s new asking price is accurate, it means that Xabi Alonso’s side may have to pay £34m more for the player if they do make another attempt to buy him during the January transfer window.
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A replacement for Fernandez is needed
The Blues sanctioned Enzo Fernandez’s departure to Manchester City for £125m despite not signing anyone to take his place in the first-team squad. A move for Monaco’s Lamine Camara collapsed, along with the Kone deal.
That decision has left Alonso hamstrung in terms of his options in the middle of the park, which has been exacerbated by the calf injury sustained by Moises Caicedo. He has had to rely on Romeo Lavia, Valentin Barco, Jordan Henderson, as well as fullbacks Reece James and Malo Gusto.
A new midfielder is, therefore, likely to arrive in January. If moves for Kone and Camara are not revived, the club may target Bournemouth’s Alex Scott or potentially Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton.