
Gasperini blocks Chelsea move for Kone
Roma avoided losing Manu Kone to Chelsea on 1 September after head coach Gian Piero Gasperini intervened to stop the deal. Chelsea had approached the Friedkins directly with an offer worth €60 million plus a loan with an option to buy for winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, a player Gasperini had strongly sought. A meeting to finalise the transfer was scheduled for 12pm Italian time before Gasperini learned of the negotiations and moved to block it. Gasperini had expressed his determination to keep Kone only the previous evening, viewing the midfielder as essential to his plans. Kone impressed in Roma's recent match against Lecce on Monday. When the coach discovered the Chelsea talks, he contacted sporting director Tony D'Amico and together they escalated the issue to the Friedkins, causing the deal to stall and ultimately collapse. Roma had already begun exploring alternatives, with AC Milan's Youssouf Fofana identified as a potential replacement. Retaining Kone strengthens Roma's position as they aim to mount a title charge. Losing the France international at such a critical moment in the season would have damaged momentum—a particularly serious concern given Gasperini's reputation for strong reactions when matters do not develop to his satisfaction.


