Chelsea have made club-to-club contact with AS Roma over the possible transfer of Manu Koné to Stamford Bridge this summer, according to Santi Aouna.
Koné began his academy journey with AC Boulogne-Billancourt in July 2015, joining the club at 14. His performances quickly drew attention, and Toulouse brought the midfielder into their youth setup a year later, where the club’s youth coach, Jean-Christophe Debu, described him as ‘extraordinary’.
Germany proved to be the stage where Koné’s reputation really took off, with his performances for Borussia Mönchengladbach marking him out as one of Europe’s most promising midfielders. That rise eventually led Roma to secure his signature in the summer of 2024.
In the 2025-26 campaign, he featured 37 times across all competitions, and that consistency has continued into the ongoing campaign, where he has played a key role in helping Roma secure two wins in their first two Serie A games this season.
It’s no surprise his quality and consistency have linked Koné with a move to the Premier League, with several reports saying Chelsea have expressed interest.
Now, according to Santi Aouna, Chelsea have formally made club-to-club contact with Roma over the potential transfer of Koné to Stamford Bridge this summer.
‘Incredible’ midfielder
Despite Roma’s coach Gian Piero Gasperini reiterating that the 25-year-old was unlikely to be sold, Aouna adds that both clubs are in talks to find an agreement for the midfielder.
Discussions appear to be accelerating, as a separate report from Sky Sports claims Chelsea are closing in on a deal to sign the 6ft 1in midfield ace.
The report adds that Blues are negotiating a £52m deal with Roma, who are also in advanced talks over a loan move for Jamie Bynoe-Gittens.
Although the Giallorossi have earmarked AC Milan’s Youssouf Fofana and Marseille’s Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg as potential replacements for Koné, Gasperini’s reluctance to part ways with the French international has proven to be a stumbling block in finalising the transfer, according to the report.
In his 146 minutes so far in Serie A, Koné has completed a sky-high 92.7% of passes without being dispossessed and a 66.7% long-ball success rate, highlighting his ability to retain possession and orchestrate transitions.
Defensively, he averages 4.93 successful duels and 2.47 tackles per 90 minutes in the Italian league, making him a reliable outlet in nullifying opponents’ attacks.
Koné would undoubtedly bring balance to Xabi Alonso’s midfield, but it remains to be seen whether Roma will sanction his exit amid reluctance from the club’s head coach, Gasperini.
