Chelsea missed out on several players during the summer transfer window, including multiple late on deadline day, despite Enzo Fernandez joining Manchester City
Manu Kone arriving at Kocaeli Stadium before playing for France in a Nations League match against Turkey
Manu Kone has continued his World Cup form with France into the Serie A season at Roma(Image: UEFA via Getty Images)
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Roma reportedly now want £86million for Manu Kone after Chelsea considered a move during the summer transfer window.
Xabi Alonso is said to be a big fan of Kone, although it remains unclear whether the club would go back in for him this winter. Chelsea agreed a £47million deal for Lamine Camara on deadline day before Monaco pulled out of proceedings at the 11th hour.
Kone was apparently available for around that amount at various points during the summer, following several impressive World Cup performances for France. Manchester United were also credited with an interest in the midfielder during August.
Gazzetta dello Sport now report that Roma have significantly raised their asking price for Kone. It comes after claiming the Serie A side repelled an assault worth around £50million from Chelsea.
Atletico Madrid are also said to have previously offered around £40million plus bonuses. However, it would now apparently take more than double that amount for them to sell their player.
The fees Tottenham Hotspur paid for Mateus Fernandes (£85million) and Sandro Tonali (£93million) are cited as part of their explanation, as are the fees Manchester City paid to sign Ayyoub Bouaddi (£86million), Elliot Anderson (£116million) and Enzo Fernandez (£125million).
Gian Piero Gasperini is said to have turned Kone into more of an all-round midfielder. Roma's head coach is now apparently allowing him more freedom to attack.
The player has already scored as many goals this season as in each of his previous two seasons in Serie A. Both came in their last match before the international break, giving them a two-goal lead against Inter in their 2-2 draw at the Stadio Olimpico.
Manu Kone
Manu Kone was of interest to Chelsea over the summer(Image: Grzegorz Wajda/SOPA Images/LightRocket)
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Roma sporting director Tony D'Amico said of Kone after the transfer window closed: "There was an inquiry and some preliminary contact with Chelsea on the final day of the transfer window. No official offers arrived that would allow us to approach the player.
"Something was imagined that simply didn't happen. There was no official offer; the final day of the transfer window got everyone a little worked up."
He later said: "Before the match against Fiorentina (on 24 August), I said it would be difficult for us to deprive ourselves of important players so near to the end of the transfer session, and so it proved. Kone is an important player, we're happy he stayed with us, and we're confident he'll give his contribution during the season."