Chelsea-target Manu Kone is reportedly set to remain at AS Roma instead of arriving at Stamford Bridge as a replacement for Enzo Fernandez, who joined Manchester City on transfer deadline day.
Fernandez, 25, is moving to the Etihad after Manchester City agreed a joint British record £125 million fee with the Blues to snap up the 2022 FIFA World Cup winner. It’s the same amount Liverpool had agreed with Newcastle United to land Alexander Isak last summer, also on transfer deadline day.
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With Fernandez reuniting with former Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca at City, the Blues identified Kone as a target. However, as per The Athletic (via Tribal Football), Roma have no intention of parting with the Frenchman in the closing hours of the transfer window.
“Manu leaving? I do NOT have that feeling, absolutely not,” Roma head coach Gian Piero Gasperini said after beating Lecce at the weekend. “No one from the club informed me about that. Our ownership group also has no plan to sell players at all”.
Fernandez is the first player to move for a transfer fee over £100 million twice, having arrived at Stamford Bridge from Benfica in January 2023 on a then British record £106.8 million deal.
Meanwhile, City have now splurged over £100 million on a player this summer for a second time, having spent £116 million to sign Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest. They’ve also signed Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille in a deal worth €95 million in what has been an expensive midfield rebuild, with Rodri moving to Real Madrid.
What’s next for Chelsea?
Xabi Alonso has had a winning start to his tenure at Chelsea, who have won their opening two Premier League games, having finished a lowly 10th last campaign to miss out on European football.
The Blues opened their campaign with a 3-2 victory at Fulham last week, with their new front three of Cole Palmer, Joao Pedro and summer arrival Morgan Rogers all scoring.
After commencing their EFL Cup campaign with a 2-0 home win over Luton Town, Alonso’s side continued their winning ways in the league, seeing off Brighton & Hove Albion 4-3 at home. They next take on holders Arsenal away on Sunday (September 6) in one of Alonso’s first real tests of the season.
Edited by Bhargav
