Manchester United transfer talks for Manu Kone face internal doubts and Roma deadline

United are still to make a bid for the midfielder (Picture: Andrea Staccioli/Insidefoto/LightRocket via Getty Images) Manchester United have stalled efforts to sign midfielder Manu Kone with AS Roma desperate to complete the transfer before the end of the month. Following the signings of Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans, Michael Carrick hopes to make a third midfield signing ahead of the new Premier League season. United appear to be keeping their options open with interest still lingering in Aurelien Tchouameni and with Carlos Baleba’s representatives reaching out to the club this week. Kone is another option after his impressive World Cup campaign with France. Reports in Italy have claimed United have already agreed personal terms with the 25-year-old, who has also attracted interest from Arsenal and Chelsea. Get personalised football updates every day Sign up to our daily football newsletter and choose your team to get the latest news, rumours and more direct to your inbox every morning. Kone has been priced at €50million (£42m) during the summer transfer window with latest reports claiming Roma want €60m (£51m). United are still to make a formal bid. The Serie A club are under pressure however to get a deal done as soon as possible. With talks moving ‘extremely slowly’, Corriere dello Sport report Roma are desperate for the transfer to be completed by 31 July. Doing so would ensure Roma meet the parameters of the settlement agreement they have with UEFA. Kone had a very impressive World Cup (Picture: Getty Images North America) It has been reported that Roma had to raise around €50m in funds by the end of June in order to comply with the settlement agreement they reached with UEFA back in September 2022. It followed the club breaking financial fair play regulations during the 2021-22 season. An original deadline of the end of June was extended by European football’s governing body last month with Kone’s future possibly set to have a major role to play. United are in no immediate rush however. While Kone is admired by some within the club’s recruitment team, not everyone supports the move and the deal does not have ‘universal backing’ at Old Trafford, the Telegraph reports. Carrick wants another midfielder (Picture: Markku Ulander / Lehtikuva / AFP via Getty Images) He has at least one huge admirer however in France and Arsenal legend Patrick Vieira who hailed him the best midfielder in the Les Bleus squad at the World Cup. ‘He has come into the World Cup with a couple of injuries and it has been a quite difficult season for him,’ Vieira told ITV during their coverage of France vs Norway last month. ‘But he is for me, the best midfielder in France today. I would put him ahead of Aurelien Tchouameni and Adrien Rabiot because he has got this mobility to move around the pitch. ‘He is aggressive, he is a ball winner and he has got this technical ability to be part of the build-up. He can break lines and play forward.’ Comment now Comments Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source

Manchester United have reportedly agreed personal terms with Manu Kone (Getty) Manchester United’s hierarchy are split over a move for AS Roma midfielder Manu Kone, according to reports. United have already signed Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans this summer but Michael Carrick is still looking to add a third midfielder to his squad before the start of the new Premier League season. Bournemouth duo Alex Scott and Tyler Adams are both on United’s shortlist, while a move for Aurelien Tchouameni is also being considered if Real Madrid indicate that they are open to selling the France international this summer. Kone, meanwhile, was also part of France’s World Cup squad who were beaten by Spain in the semi-final earlier this month. Get personalised football updates every day Sign up to our daily football newsletter and choose your team to get the latest news, rumours and more direct to your inbox every morning. Reports in Italy this week have claimed that United have agreed personal terms with Kone, however, the Premier League side have not finalised a transfer fee with Roma. The Serie A club are said to be demanding a €60 million (£51m) package for the 25-year-old. Roma are demanding a €60 million (£51m) transfer fee for Manu Kone (Reuters) However, The Telegraph reports that not everyone in United’s recruitment team fully supports a move for Kone and that a deal for the French midfielder does not have ‘universal backing’ among the hierarchy at OId Trafford. The report adds that there also appears to be reservations behind the scenes at United over a move for Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba. United attempted to sign Baleba last summer but Brighton put a £100m price tag on the 22-year-old, who went on to have an inconsistent season under Fabian Hurzeler. On Friday, United sealed a 5-0 win over Rosenborg in their latest pre-season friendly. ‘I think we’re in a good place. I think there’s four weeks to go to the start and we’re gradually getting some boys back from the World Cup as we progress,’ Carrick said after his side’s win in Norway. ‘But I think a little bit of patience and time and trying to keep ahead and as I said, keeping everyone fit but moving forward is a really good direction to go in. And as it stands right now, I think we’re in a pretty good place. So, the boys will get better as we go.’ For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Comment now Comments Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source