Man Utd signed Sekou Kone last summer and the young midfielder has spent this season playing for the Under-21s.
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Kone scored a volley for the U21s.(Image: V)
Sekou Kone's arrival last summer was a sign of Ineos' new strategy at Manchester United.
Manchester is close to 2,500 miles away from the African nation of Mali, and it's not often that players from a small club like Guidars FC make a straight transfer to the Premier League.
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Kone's move had a rags-to-riches feel and he was first scouted by United in November 2023 at the Under-17 World Cup in Indonesia. Multiple staff members from United watched Kone throughout that tournament as Mali beat Argentina to claim a third-place finish and they were impressed.
After following Kone at the U17 World Cup, another United scout attended an Under-18 tournament in Morocco in April where he featured as one of the players of the tournament.
It's understood the recommendation to sign Kone came after this tournament and there was communication between the club's scouting team in order to make the deal happen.
United paid around £1million to sign Kone and sources preached patience when he touched down in England, saying he would need time to adapt to the demands of his new surroundings.
Kone essentially had his own pre-season after missing a lot of time training while the transfer process went on, which explains why he made his first academy start in November.
The 19-year-old started for the Under-21s against Huddersfield Town but limped off the pitch with an injury after 40 minutes. Kone was hurt after a strong Huddersfield challenge and was subsequently pictured leaving the stadium using crutches and wearing a protective boot on his right foot.
Although Kone's injury wasn't serious, he did miss a few weeks of action, but he must have done something right upon his return to fitness because Ruben Amorim named him in two matchday squads in the Premier League.
Kone scored a left-footed volley.
Kone was on the bench against Tottenham and Everton in February, and his goal for the U21s against Leeds last weekend wouldn't have gone unnoticed by the first-team coaching staff.
He scored a stunning left-footed volley, which was unstoppable, and his all-around performance was pleasing. Having said that, Kone was incredibly green when he made his start against Huddersfield's first-team and still has a long way to go before he features in senior matches.
That's why it seems best to send Kone on loan next season. He will obviously get a chance to show what he can do in pre-season, but a loan for 2025/2026 seems the best option at this stage.
Kone would benefit from gaining muscle because he's slight and will need to be stronger to play in the English football league. The Malian international has the talent and just needs to develop the frame to give himself the best chance of breaking into the first-team at Old Trafford.
The youngster has been given a year to settle at the club and a season-long loan before being assessed again in the summer of 2026 is the logical approach considering he needs experience.
Kone is considered as a player with high potential by United staff, but he's unlikely to be playing regularly for Amorim next season and should be given the chance for regular minutes on loan.