Manchester City carried out a survey for French midfielder Manu Koné, currently at AS Roma. Revelations from Italy indicate that Arsenal have already reached an agreement on personal terms with the 25-year-old.
The English club would be actively looking for a second central midfielder to strengthen their squad, in addition to the possible arrival of Elliot Anderson.
A recent journalistic investigation indicates that Manchester City made a new move for Koné, even with the belief that Arsenal had already consolidated a personal understanding with the young promise from Roma.
His outstanding performance in the last season of Serie A positioned him as one of the most desired midfielders in this transfer window. Koné’s characteristics, such as physical robustness, passing precision and the ability to control the game in areas with little space, attracted the attention of major European teams looking for a versatile and impactful player.
Previously, Arsenal were seen as the main candidates for his signature. Information released in Italy at the beginning of the month indicated that the Gunners were close to finalizing an agreement, and personal details with the 25-year-old athlete were already defined for a potential move to the Emirates Stadium.
Manchester City intensifies search for midfield reinforcements and contacts Koné
According to journalist Damiano Er Faina, Manchester City has already established contact for a possible transaction for Koné. This action puts the club in direct competition with Arsenal, as the player has already given his initial approval to move to the English capital this summer.
The move demonstrates City’s objective of signing not just one, but two midfielders before the market closes. Football director Hugo Viana is looking for a second player with similar characteristics, to complement the likely arrival of Elliot Anderson, from Nottingham Forest, signaling an in-depth reinforcement strategy for next season.
The name of Sandro Tonali, from Newcastle United, also emerged as a possible target for the position at City. However, so far, there is no confirmation of any formal proposal for the Italian midfielder.