Tottenham Hotspur have emerged as ‘genuine contenders’ to sign AS Roma midfielder Manu Kone, according to reports, with the player also previously linked with Arsenal. The development comes as Roberto De Zerbi looks to reshape his Tottenham squad following back-to-back 17th-place finishes in the Premier League.
Spurs have been active in the summer transfer window, bringing in Andy Robertson, Marcos Senesi, and Jan Paul van Hecke to strengthen their defence. The club’s focus has now shifted to bolstering the central midfield and addressing the left-wing position. Tottenham have already had one offer rejected for Newcastle’s Sandro Tonali and are preparing a second bid, while also maintaining interest in West Ham’s Mateus Fernandes.
However, a report from Italian outlet Corriere della Sera claims Tottenham are also exploring a move for Kone, potentially taking advantage of Roma’s current Financial Fair Play situation. De Zerbi is reportedly a ‘big fan’ of the 25-year-old France international. Initial talks with Arsenal had taken place, with personal terms reportedly discussed, but transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, via Mateo Morretto, stated that the Gunners are no longer actively pursuing Kone.
Tottenham have ‘made their own enquiries’ regarding a potential £40million deal for Kone, who is said to be open to considering the move despite Tottenham’s lack of European football next season. He is described as a ‘dynamic and athletic’ player, comfortable in both defensive and attacking phases, and has established himself as a ‘complete box-to-box operator’ in Serie A. The fee is also significantly lower than the valuations placed on Tonali and Fernandes by Newcastle and West Ham respectively.
Kone is currently with the French national team at the World Cup, where he was an unused substitute in their opening 3-1 win against Senegal. He could feature in their upcoming match against Iraq on Monday evening. A successful transfer would provide De Zerbi with a key component in his midfield rebuild and offer Kone a platform to continue his development in the Premier League.
