Chelsea beat Bournemouth 5-1 on matchday six of the Premier League last weekend with Jordan Henderson starring at Stamford Bridge with a brace for the Blues, after starting in the double pivot in the middle of the park alongside Moises Caicedo.
While he could prove to be a solid short-term solution to the team’s lack of depth and creativity in midfield, the Blues need to act in the transfer market next year to revamp their quality in the engine room, especially after Enzo Fernandez’s exit this summer.
Bournemouth’s Alex Scott is on Chelsea’s radar but as per Simon Phillips, they may reignite interest in AS Roma midfielder Manu Kone during the January transfer window as Xabi Alonso plots a bold mid-season swoop for the French international.
Having been keen on his purchase in the summer without much luck and subsequently failing to sign Lamine Camara as well, Chelsea’s renewed desire to sign Kone is not a surprise, though they will need to pay a hefty sum as the player’s price tag has significantly risen of late with Roma now valuing him at £86 million, according to Gazzetta.
Kone an excellent signing but January move a tall order
Manu Kone promises to be a solid signing for Chelsea in spite of his £86 million price tag. After consolidating his place in France’s national team, it only seems like a matter of time before the 25-year-old joins one of the world’s biggest clubs.
His ability to break the lines, thanks to his strong physique and upper body strength, press resistance and the ability to recycle possession and dictate tempo in midfield with short and mid-range passing would make him a brilliant fit in Xabi Alonso’s setup.
Defensively, Kone works relentlessly to dispossess the opposition with his physical prowess, tackling and high intensity particularly standing out. His all-round attributes mean he can be a cornerstone in Chelsea’s midfield for years to come.
Roma, however, are unlikely to sell Kone in January. Gian Piero Gasperini’s side is in the thick of the Serie A title race and letting one of their most crucial players depart midway through the season could hamper their chances of winning the Scudetto.
Therefore, Kone’s proposed transfer to Chelsea is likelier to materialise next summer rather than in the January window.
