Koné dominates World Cup as France advance, with Premier League clubs watching

Roma are preparing a concrete move for Belgian forward Moreira, a 2004-born prospect, with an offer of €30 million plus 10 per cent of any future resale. However, the package falls short of Strasbourg's valuation, with the French club demanding roughly €50 million. Agent Jorge Mendes is working to find a formula that will persuade Strasbourg to negotiate. Moreira was left on the bench in a recent match and has just been eliminated from the World Cup by Spain. The teenager has emerged as Roma's primary attacking target this window. The gap between the two clubs' valuations remains substantial, though Mendes' involvement suggests ongoing dialogue. Moreira's availability for transfer discussions was constrained while competing in the World Cup; his elimination means he can now focus fully on his future and potential moves.

Roma are exploring a move for Alejandro Garnacho following the Mason Greenwood situation, with director Tony D'Amico having made contact with the winger's representatives. Chelsea regard Garnacho as available, but the club's preference is a permanent sale. Roma have no intention or financial capacity to pursue a permanent deal at present, leaving a loan move as the sole realistic option under discussion. Work continues behind the scenes on other right-wing targets classified as Champions League-calibre players. Leipzig's Nusa and Paris Saint-Germain's Mbaye are under consideration, while Ajax's Godts—who operates mainly on the left—has resurfaced as a possibility. Director D'Amico has also sounded out Dan Ndoye and Eintracht Frankfurt's Can Uzun, an emerging international playmaker. Como's Diao, who could leave the club, remains on the radar despite competition from Galatasaray. Manu Koné has impressed at international level with France, bolstering his standing at the club. Meanwhile, Roma have experienced a significant uptick in season-ticket sales, signalling renewed supporter confidence heading into the new campaign.

Manchester United has abandoned its pursuit of Atalanta midfielder Ederson following doubts over the Brazilian's physical condition. Atalanta, however, remains confident the player has no fitness issues and is prepared to reintegrate him into the squad. With Ederson off the table, United is now actively exploring alternatives in midfield—and the search has turned toward Roma's Manu Koné. The French midfielder has attracted interest from the English club in recent days, particularly from media coverage in England. Koné's involvement with his national team at the World Cup could work in Roma's favour, potentially enabling the club to secure a higher transfer fee. The collapse of United's Ederson pursuit may now reignite the club's interest in Koné, opening a fresh pathway for the transfer.

Gian Piero Gasperini has reason to be pleased with his two World Cup-bound midfielders, Manu Koné and Neil El Aynaoui, after their displays in recent weeks. Despite their quality, the pair started together only five times during the previous season under Roma's coach: three occasions in Europa League against Nizza, Viktoria Plzen, and Midtjylland, and twice in Serie A. The limited partnerships stand in stark contrast to their recent performances on the international stage in the USA. The World Cup traditionally reshapes team dynamics and attracts attention from rival clubs, particularly if nations progress deep into the tournament. Koné faces heightened interest should France reach the final stages, while El Aynaoui has long been the subject of admiration from other sides. Should both continue at Roma, however, Gasperini will command two midfielders in peak condition—a resource valuable both on the pitch and potentially in financial terms should circumstances demand a sale.

Manu Koné produced an outstanding performance as France defeated Morocco 2-0, showcasing the intensity and ball-winning prowess that have marked his tournament. Deployed in midfield as Tchouameni faced repeated fitness issues, Koné made his fourth World Cup start across six appearances, playing 71 minutes before being replaced by Zaire-Emery. His display was characterised by relentless pressing and tactical discipline, recovering possession at crucial moments—including one key intervention early in the second half on a Brahim Diaz counter-attack that could have shifted the match's trajectory. Koné's statistics underlined his control of the middle ground: 35 completed passes from 38 attempts (92% accuracy), one key pass, six ball recoveries, four tackles won, and one shot attempted. His energetic contribution drew praise from supporters on social media. The Roma midfielder's combative style marks a departure from his domestic approach, where he typically operates with more restraint. Notably, his Roma teammate Neil El Aynaoui also featured in the fixture. France now advance to the semi-finals, where they will face either Spain or Belgium.

France reached the World Cup 2026 semi-finals with a 2–0 victory over Morocco, with Roma midfielder Manu Koné playing a central role in the triumph. Adrien Rabiot, his partner in France's midfield, publicly praised Koné's display after the match, highlighting their dominance in the middle of the park. Rabiot said: "Me and Manu were devastating, we ate them up," referring to the midfield duel. He added broader context on France's control: "We had the feeling that in moments when we didn't have the ball and let them have it, they weren't very dangerous. We had little to fear from this team. That's the feeling we had on the pitch. It's surprising. But they remain a team that can make a difference at any moment because they have extraordinary individual players. That's why we always stayed alert." French media gave Koné equally strong marks. Le Parisien called him "omnipresent", while L'Équipe praised his dominant performance and complete display. The match carried special significance for Roma: Koné and fellow club teammate Neil El Aynaoui faced each other with a semi-final berth at stake. The Frenchman advanced while the Moroccan's tournament ended at the quarter-final stage. After the final whistle, the two Roma players embraced in a show of mutual respect, a gesture later shared on social media by Koné's partner.