Chelsea have enquired about Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder Manu Kone ahead of the summer transfer window with Paris Saint-Germain also interested.
Manu Kone, 21, joined Borussia Monchengladbach in January 2021 from Toulouse. He has become one of the highly-rated young midfielders across Europe in the last 15-18 months, impressing with his all-round performances in the Bundesliga. The France under-21 international has been impressive for Daniel Farke’s side this season, registering a goal and an assist in 23 league games.
The youngster’s performances have caught the attention of some of Europe’s top clubs. Paris Saint-Germain are keen on Kone, but Chelsea reportedly have the edge as the midfielder dreams of a move to the Premier League.
Chelsea set to spend on a midfielder again?
Chelsea grabbed headlines in the January transfer window when they spent over £100million to sign Enzo Fernandez from Benfica. Fernandez, who starred for Argentina in their World Cup success in Qatar last year, has seamlessly slotted into Graham Potter’s side. Regardless of his impressive performances, the Blues remain in the market for a defensive midfielder.
Jorginho left Stamford Bridge for Arsenal in January while players like Conor Gallagher and Ruben Loftus-Cheek don’t have the quality to play regularly in midfield. In addition, N’Golo Kante has spent the entirety of the campaign on the sidelines and will become a free agent in June, unless the club decides to hand him a contract extension.
Thus, it is not a surprise to see the Pensioners linked with midfielders ahead of the summer transfer window.
Manu Kone could be a top addition for the Blues
Borussia Monchengladbach’s Manu Kone has emerged as a viable target for Chelsea. The Frenchman can operate as a No.6 as well as a No.8, and he will help tighten up things in midfield and bring energy to Graham Potter’s side. He is a crisp passer, tenacious tackler and works really hard off the ball, and the Blues could ideally do with someone of his profile next to Enzo Fernandez.
Kone could form a solid partnership alongside Fernandez at the heart of Chelsea’s midfield, adding more quality and depth to the squad. The 21-year-old is still in the developmental phase of his career and could unlock his vast potential under a smart manager like Potter at Stamford Bridge.
Under new co-owner Todd Boehly, Chelsea have formed a clear strategy of targeting some of the top young talents in world football. And Kone would fit the bill perfectly, potentially giving the Blues a long-term replacement for Kante in their engine room.
The French under-21 international is rated at around €25m but Gladbach seek to secure a transfer fee that is considerably higher than that. For now, Chelsea must keep tracking Kone’s progress at Gladbach.
I am Rohan Sengupta from one of the busiest cities in India, Mumbai. A Journalism graduate with a keen interest in sports, football is something I simply cannot live without and writing, discussing and analyzing the game is what I do 24*7.
