Laurie Whitwell believes Manchester United may have deemed Manu Kone too pricey for what they’re after.
The AS Roma star is expected to be on the move this summer after a stellar World Cup campaign with France.
Manu Kone: The state of play
Kone reached the semi-finals of the competition with the 2018 winners and played an integral role at the heart of Didier Deschamps’ midfield.
Manu Kone’s game by numbers vs. Morocco:
96% pass accuracy
9 carries
3 duels contested
3 duels won
2 fouls won
1 chance created
1 progressive carry
Really impressive. 🔝 pic.twitter.com/5lnoNlrJpw
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) July 9, 2026
That’s why it came as a surprise when he was left out of the XI for their clash with Spain before being introduced to the action at the interval.
Yet, his best efforts were not enough to keep the eventual winners at bay, and it consequently spelt the end of France’s journey.
Even still, INEOS were impressed with what they’d seen of Kone throughout his time in the United States, to the point he has been tipped to become the side’s third midfield signing of the summer window.
What are journalists hearing about Kone?
Aware of the speculation linking the 25-year-old to Old Trafford, David Ornstein said: “ A lot of reports suggest that Manchester United are looking at him, and I think that would be excellent. Honestly, for a club like Man United…
“I doubt they’ll be the only club in the frame, either. But in terms of his box-to-box capabilities, the legs, the technical precision, and intelligence. Yeah, he’s got a lot of development still, but he’s at a really high level.
“It’s, from what we hear, a great market opportunity, the value that you could get him from Roma.”
However, Ornstein’s colleague Whitwell has provided a less exciting update on the Talk of the Devils podcast today, as he stated: “I’ve got a feeling from the people I’ve spoken to that the price point Roma want might be too rich for United’s blood.”
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Isabel, 25, is a football writer who has previously gained experience in the industry as the editor of Stretty News, along with work on Caught Offside, Last Word on Football and Give Me Sport. She is now the editor of UtdReport.
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