Manchester United are working to add another midfielder to their squad, having already agreed a deal for Chelsea midfielder Andrey Santos.
Newcastle United actually made a late move to sign the midfielder, but the Red Devils are set to win the race for his signature, in a deal that could end up costing £50m.
However, with Manuel Ugarte potentially in line to follow Casemiro out the exit door, a number of additions may be required in the middle of the park this summer.
A deal for Ederson is set to be completed, but they aren’t planning to stop there, with it being revealed they are now interested in signing AS Roma midfielder Manu Kone.
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Football FanCast’s Verdict |
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Credibility |
Man United definitely need multiple additions in the engine room, with Casemiro already departing, and Ugarte attracting interest. Moreover, they are set to make a return to the Champions League next season, which means Michael Carrick will need greater squad depth. |
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Finances |
That said, a deal would be relatively expensive, with Roma planning to hold out for £50m. Crucially though, the Italian side are willing to sanction a sale. |
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Insight |
The Frenchman made 29 appearances for Roma in the Serie A last term, picking up two goals and three assists. Scout Ben Mattinson has lauded the maestro for “game-breaking ball carrying”, while also praising him for the way in which he sets the tempo. |
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Impact |
Kone is often utilised in a defensive midfield role. As such, he could be a direct replacement for Casemiro, who has been widely reported to be joining Inter Miami. |
Man Utd serious about signing Manu Kone
According to a report from TEAMtalk, Man United are now seriously keen on signing Kone, with Roma prepared to offload their star midfielder for £50m.
The 25-year-old is interested in a move to the Premier League too, which suggests the Red Devils could stand a good chance of securing his signature.
How Manu Kone compares to Casemiro
As pointed out by Como scout Mattinson, the France international is composed in possession, averaging 61.3 accurate passes per 90 at the World Cup, and Aurélien Tchouaméni is his only teammate to have averaged more.
Casemiro, on the other hand, averaged just 45.2 accurate passes per 90 in the Premier League last season, with the Brazilian flourishing more from a defensive point of view, averaging 3.1 tackles, compared to 2.0 from Kone for France.
That said, the France star is also skilled at winning back possession, doing so in the final third an average of 1.0 times per 90 at the World Cup, which is a higher figure than any Man United player managed in the Premier League during the 2025-26 campaign.
As such, while Kone is a different type of profile to Casemiro, he could still be an exciting replacement, and £50m feels like a reasonable fee for an established France international, who has made three appearances at the World Cup.
