Chelsea learn new price tag for Manu Kone and it’s enormous, but it’s still worth it

Lamine Camara was the one that look destined to join, but Monaco pulled the plug. There was interest in Fulham’s Norway international Sander Berge, while David Ornstein says Chelsea were close to Manu Kone.

Any chance of Chelsea returning for Kone looks unlikely

During the summer, Roma needed a sale, and Kone was considered to bring some cash in at the Olimpico. But the France World Cup star has stayed despite Chelsea’s attempts to bring him to London.

If Chelsea were going to sign him, a fee of around £50m was expected to change hands. But now Roma want a whole lot more, with Corriere Dello Sport reporting that Roma have increased their price tag.

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It is claimed that Roma now want a whopping €100m [£86m] for Kone, a player who would have been the ideal summer signing. Patrick Vieira recently said that he’s France’s best midfielder at the World Cup.

Now, he’ll cost two-thirds of the fee Chelsea received from Man City and ultimately, Chelsea have missed the chance to sign a brilliant midfielder – one that Kylian Mbappe is a big fan of – for a bargain £50m.

Kone makes more sense than Alex Scott

If Chelsea fans could sign anyone, it would be Bournemouth’s Alex Scott. Chelsea had a £64m bid turned down for the England midfielder in the summer, and interest remains with his contract expiring in 2028.

But Scott is a playmaker. Alonso’s 3-4-2-1 system incorporates Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers in two 10 roles, and that requires two defensive midfielders to cover them and the wing-backs when attacking.

Scott is a quality player, and his ability to play as a deep-lying playmaker might work. But bringing in a defensive-minded midfielder like Kone, Camara or Berge would make more sense in Alonso’s system.

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