Manu Koné

Manu Koné is the leading candidate to leave AS Roma this summer, with Manchester United registering concrete interest in the midfielder. The Daily Mail reports that Koné has already given his approval to a Premier League transfer, and United have initiated contact with the player's representatives. The move would represent Manchester United's third midfield acquisition, following Santos and Tielemans. Roma have not yet received a formal offer for the French midfielder, though a deal would need to be struck before the end of July. The club are holding firm on a minimum valuation of 50 million euros and have no intention of selling below that figure, despite the tight summer deadline. Matías Soulé, by contrast, has attracted no offers so far and remains part of Roma's plans. The pressure is mounting on Roma to finalise departures, with Koné identified as the principal candidate to depart. While Manchester United's interest is progressing, an agreement between the club and the Red Devils remains outstanding. The midfielder's willingness to move provides a potential pathway, but Roma's asking price and the compressed timeframe will determine whether a deal materialises before the July deadline.

Manu Koné is available for transfer this summer, with Manchester United leading the pursuit of the Roma midfielder. The Premier League club have placed him on their shortlist of midfielders to buy and have already opened contact with his representatives, according to L'Equipe. Arsenal showed interest weeks earlier but have been overtaken in the race by the Red Devils. Koné impressed at the World Cup with France and now faces a decision on his future. Roma have not yet received any formal offers at their training ground, Trigoria, despite the growing interest from England. The 23-year-old midfielder remains on the club's list of players available for sale, meaning his departure cannot be ruled out.

Roma's pursuit of Celtic midfielder Engels faces fresh competition, with Tottenham now joining the transfer chase. The Scottish club values the player at €25 million, a fee Tottenham under De Zerbi is reportedly prepared to match. Engels is also attracting interest from Serie A rivals Lazio, Milan, and Napoli. Roma's midfield recruitment is not an immediate priority for Gasperini. The coach has Koné, Pisilli, Cristante, and El Ayanoui available in that sector, and the club is unlikely to move for a fresh arrival without selling Koné first. The coming hours are expected to be decisive regarding a separate forward target, Summerville, with the club also monitoring defensive reinforcements across the pitch. The €25 million valuation sets the benchmark for any suitor, though Roma's reluctance to act in midfield until funds are freed suggests they may step back from the Engels race or only pursue it if circumstances change.

Roma are preparing contingency plans to replace Manu Koné should he leave the club, with Manchester United leading the chase for the midfielder. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has confirmed the club will likely have to sell a key player due to financial constraints, with the deadline for such sales now set for July 31st. Roma value Koné at €55–60 million, a substantial markup from his €12 million book value, and expect significant interest alongside Chelsea and Manchester United, who are also tracking Eduardo Camavinga and Alex Scott. The Giallorossi would prefer to offload Matías Soulé instead, but he rejected a move to Saudi Arabia and offers have been insufficient. Juventus's pursuit of Zeki Çelik, valued at €40 million, has also forced Roma's hand. To bolster their midfield options, the club are monitoring Frank Kessié and Khephren Thuram from Chelsea, as well as Celtic's Arne Engels (€20–25 million) and Botafogo's Danilo Santos (€30–35 million), a former member of Brazil's World Cup squad. Gasperini has shifted his stance on retaining the entire squad, though wage constraints remain a significant obstacle to some acquisitions. Roma prioritize a defensively robust midfielder to complement their existing options.

Roma radio commentators weighed in on the club's transfer activity and recent management decisions. The primary focus centres on the pursuit of Summerville from West Ham, with Carina reporting that Roma have offered 45 million euros and the decision should become clearer in the coming days, though West Ham value the player at 50 million. Carina noted that Roma's squad will be strengthened by players returning from loan, and suggested that Manu Koné may leave the club. Several commentators expressed frustration with the club's operational pace. Cristofori highlighted that Lorenzo Pellegrini's contract situation—still unsigned as of 20 July—damages Roma's image: "Pellegrini is not like other players. He's been captain, a representative figure. A bit more sensitivity would be in order. That he's still in the final year of his contract on 20 July isn't a good look for Roma." Ciotti stated: "The Friedkin, when they want to accelerate, they do so; for other things they struggle," and noted that the delays in securing deals reflect broader inefficiency. Cristofori also defended Çelik, saying he knew of his contract situation and Gasperini's interest since January, raising questions about why the renewal wasn't finalised earlier. Pruzzo suggested Roma should move away from pursuing Summerville and look elsewhere.

Paulo Dybala spearheaded Roma's pre-season momentum with a brace and two assists in a 6–0 victory over the Primavera at Trigoria under coach Gian Piero Gasperini. The Argentine playmaker set up goals for Matías Soulé and Artem Dovbyk, who netted twice to open and close the friendly. Bryan Cristante also scored. Wesley, the Brazilian defender, emerged as one of the brightest performers, shaking off an injury sustained before the World Cup, while the squad operated with limited depth after El Aynaoui and Koné are not due back for several weeks. Gasperini was forced to borrow young midfielder Bah on loan from Mattia Scala due to midfield shortages. The match unfolded in four twenty-minute periods and only truly came alive after Dybala and Wesley entered the pitch. Mario Hermoso took a hard knock below the right knee but departed with ice—nothing serious, and the Spanish defender already appears match-ready. Angeliño, however, continues to lack sharpness; the left-back showed the same form as last season with limited drive and fitness still to regain. Gasperini has monitored his progress since the start of the training camp, though his full condition appears distant, signalling that reinforcements may be required in that area of the pitch. Outgoing players including Kumbulla and Pagano remained absent from the friendly.