Manchester City have identified Roma midfielder Manu Kone as a potential signing for their revamped midfield before the Premier League season starts.
The Premier League champions are reshaping their squad after selling midfielders Rodri and Tijjani Reijnders this week for a combined total of around £110million. The double departure has left manager Enzo Maresca with significant gaps to fill in his central midfield options just days before the domestic campaign begins.
City are hopeful of wrapping up a deal in the coming days for Lille's deep-lying midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi, who is valued at £85million, to bolster the engine room. Daily Mail Sport understands that Kone, who featured five times for France during the World Cup, is also prominent on City's list of targets before the transfer window closes.
The 25-year-old French midfielder has 19 caps for his country and started four matches in North America over the summer, as well as coming on at half-time in France's semi-final defeat against Spain. Kone has spent the past two years playing in Italy's Serie A, scoring four goals in 63 appearances for Italian side Roma. The former Borussia Monchengladbach player is renowned for his dynamism and excels off the ball.
Midfield Targets and Rival Interest
Roma are reported to have set an asking price of around £51million for Kone. That figure is broadly similar to the transfer fee paid by Saudi Pro League club Al-Qadsiah to sign Reijnders from City earlier this week.
Both Chelsea and Manchester United have previously been linked with the former Bundesliga midfielder. Daily Mail Sport revealed last month that Manchester United had spoken directly to Kone's representatives, but the Old Trafford club are now swooping for Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Carlos Baleba instead.
Manchester City also remain interested in Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez. A soft deadline set by Chelsea to complete a deal for £120million passed without a formal bid from City. The Argentina international midfielder wants to link back up with Maresca at the Etihad Stadium, but City are currently unwilling to reach Chelsea's financial valuation.
Spurs Pursue Double Deal and Newcastle Target
Alongside their search for incoming midfield reinforcements, Manchester City are in advanced talks to sell both winger Savinho and forward Omar Marmoush to Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur. The two combined deals would likely be worth upwards of £140million, with Spurs pressing ahead to complete the double transfer.
Maresca recently suggested that both players were actively considering their futures following a lack of playing time at the club last term. Meanwhile, in what promises to be a frantic final fortnight of the summer transfer window, Newcastle United are also exploring a potential move for Nico Gonzalez.
