With Enzo Fernandez continually linked to Real Madrid, Chelsea need a midfielder this summer, and Manu Kone has been linked. It seems Roma are preparing for his departure.
With the Financial Fairplay deadline looming on June 30th, some clubs are being forced to sell to meet the guidelines. There are plenty in Serie A, with Juventus ace Andrea Cambiaso a target for Chelsea.
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Juve need to sell, and so do their rivals Roma. It has seen Chelsea, Arsenal and Atletico Madrid linked with one of Roma’s best players, namely Manu Kone. Roma need an influx of £50m before Tuesday’s deadline.
Kone is rated at around £40m by Roma, and clearly, they are willing to do business before they are fined or worse, suffer a points deduction going into 2026-27. Now, Chelsea have been given a boost.
Roma identify replacement for Chelsea target Manu Kone
Of course, Roma could manufacture the funds by selling other players, but Kone is the one generating interest and an exit seems likely. Indeed, Roma realise this given the latest reports coming out of Italy.
According to Leggo, as per Roma News, Roma have targeted Lens midfielder Lamine Camara as cover for Kone. Beyond the 30th, they will have the time to spend again before the 2027 Financial Fairplay deadline.
Camara is deemed to be worth in the £30m region by Lens, with the Ligue 1 side finishing second behind PSG last season. Camara was a key part of that, and Roma are considering a move to bring him to Italy.
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While Chelsea could do with a replacement for Fernandez when the Argentine eventually, and inevitably, joins Madrid, Kone is not that man. This is a player better used deeper in midfield, key to transition.
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Without Fernandez, Andrey Santos is Chelsea’s next-best option if Reece James remains on the right of the defence, either as a wing-back, the right of a back three, or as right-back if Alonso plays a four.
Kone is known for his stamina, his progressive runs from deep and his press-resistant passes in which he would feed the likes of Cole Palmer, Pedro Neto, Estevao and more. Kone would be a very smart signing.
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