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Manchester United could use Marcus Rashford as part of transfer negotiations to sign France midfielder Manu Kone from Serie A side Roma this summer, according to reports from Italian newspaper Gazzetta Dello Sport.
The Red Devils have already completed the signings of two midfielders this summer, with Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans joining from Chelsea and Aston Villa respectively. United are targeting one more midfielder before the summer window closes, alongside a left-winger and a full-back as priority positions.
A deal for Atalanta midfielder Ederson had been lined up as the third midfield signing, but it collapsed over concerns about the player’s fitness. Kone has since moved to the top of the shortlist following his performances for France at the World Cup.
Roma’s €60m Valuation Creates Internal Divide
Roma’s €60m (£51m) asking price is the central obstacle. Gazzetta Dello Sport reports that “not everyone in Manchester is convinced by the potential investment” and that the deal has “not received unanimous backing from United’s hierarchy.” The situation is described as entering “a period of consideration rather than a definitive halt.”
Contact with Kone’s representatives has been characterised as positive. One avenue being explored to bridge the valuation gap involves including Rashford in the deal. Rashford had a €30m (£26m) buyout clause in his loan agreement at Barcelona, which gave the Catalan club the option to make the move permanent this summer. Barcelona did not exercise that option. Gazzetta Dello Sport now reports Rashford has been “offered” as part of a potential package for Kone, with his “colossal salary” cited as the “major hurdle” to any swap arrangement.
Jacobs Ranks United’s Remaining Midfield Options
Journalist Ben Jacobs recently assessed four midfielders linked with United on The United Stand, giving a clearer picture of where each candidate sits in the club’s thinking.
“Yeah, I think Alex Scott is a high priority, but it’s just a high price, so you have to weigh those two things against each other, and we’ll wait and see whether Manchester United formally enter that race. Bournemouth had actually had a call from Manchester United for Scott before that Chelsea bid. He’s been looked at by Arsenal, Chelsea as well, even though they prioritised that bid for Alex Scott, but no real headway because the player was obviously at the World Cup, so we’re going to have to wait and see how that develops. But again, he’s much higher on the list.”
“Lower down is Tyler Adams, and at the moment Carlos Baleba is not to be discounted. And of all of the names, it probably would be fair to say that Aurelien Tchouameni would be right near the top of the list, but again, that is 1,000% irrelevant if the player is going to stay at the football club. And again, I come back to what I said before: he’s already agreed a new deal with Real Madrid.”
Read also: Man Utd Open Formal Talks With Roma to Sign Manu Kone as Third Midfield Target
With the Ederson deal dead and the Tchouameni route effectively closed, United’s midfield pursuit this summer narrows to a small group of realistic targets. Kone remains firmly in the frame, though the Rashford salary complication means a straight swap is far from straightforward. Follow TipsGG for the latest updates as the transfer window moves toward its close.