Manchester United in pole position for Koné as Roma awaits formal offer

Manu Koné has attracted attention from Europe's biggest clubs following his impressive performances for France at the World Cup. Atlético Madrid made two separate bids of €45 million, both rejected. Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand claimed the club had reached an agreement to sign the Roma midfielder for £45 million (approximately €53 million), describing him as an excellent fit for Carrick's 4-2-3-1 system. Koné's stock has risen sharply after his displays with les Bleus, earning praise from Patrick Vieira, who noted: "He is a very complete midfielder. He is capable of recovering the ball and pushing forward; he is able to make the final passes. And I believe he still has considerable room for improvement. He earned his teammates' respect through his work on the pitch, and that is what counts most." Thierry Henry, who trained Koné in the French Under-23s, added: "I am proud, but not surprised: I know what he can do." No formal offer has reached Roma's training ground yet. The club's valuation floor appears set above Atlético's €45 million bids. Koné is focused on finishing the World Cup strongly, including the third-place play-off, before returning to Gian Piero Gasperini's squad in early August.

Roma are nearing completion of Lorenzo Pellegrini's contract renewal, the final piece in a sweeping squad overhaul under head coach Gian Piero Gasperini. After securing extensions for key players Zeki Çelik, Gianluca Mancini, Bryan Cristante, and Paulo Dybala, the club is now focused on concluding Pellegrini's deal in the coming days. A productive meeting between sporting director Tony D'Amico and the midfielder's agent Giampiero Pocetta has strengthened optimism that a positive outcome is imminent. The atmosphere surrounding the renewal remains serene, with Roma working with determination to reach agreement soon. The club's push to finalise Pellegrini's extension aims to quell transfer speculation, including reports of Juventus interest in the number seven. With the contract situations of Dybala, Çelik, Mancini, and Cristante now either completed or in their final stages, closing Pellegrini's renewal represents the last necessary step to ensure full continuity across Gasperini's technical project at the club.

Roma are pursuing multiple options to strengthen their left flank in what head coach Gasperini and the club's hierarchy view as a priority position. The club is running parallel negotiations for Norwegian winger Antonio Nusa of RB Leipzig and Crysencio Summerville at West Ham United. For Nusa, Roma are prepared to invest approximately €45 million to persuade Leipzig, with a personal agreement already in place worth €3.5 million per season. Summerville, considered more immediately available and experienced, would also command similar terms around €45 million, though Roma must negotiate with West Ham and compete with Aston Villa's interest. Roma have already reached agreement with Summerville on contract terms. Meanwhile, Diego Moreira's move from Strasbourg is gaining momentum. The Brazilian has agreed personal terms of €2 million plus bonuses annually. Strasbourg initially valued Moreira at around €50 million but have reduced their asking price substantially in recent days. Roma are targeting a deal between €30–35 million, with the possibility of adding up to 20 per cent on future resale to sweeten the arrangement. The gap between the clubs has narrowed, though the transfer remains unsigned. In midfield, Manu Koné may depart the club.