Real Madrid scouts are monitoring Roma powerhouse Manu Kone as a potential replacement for Eduardo Camavinga, who faces an uncertain future amid heavy interest from Manchester United.
According to a report by Spanish news outlet Diario AS via Ekrem Konur, Real Madrid are "closely monitoring" AS Roma midfielder Manu Koné as Premier League sides Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea continue to search for midfielders from the Los Blancos fold.
Real Madrid head coach Jose Mourinho has publicly stated that their squad is complete for the season, and chief scout Juni Calafat has stalled all transfer inquiries for potential targets. The word around the club is that they will only go for the Frenchman if they receive a substantial offer from any club for one of their midfielders.
Ekrem Konur provided an update on Manchester United submitting an €50 million offer to Real Madrid to acquire the services of Eduardo Camavinga. The former Stade Rennais man has been deemed surplus by Mourinho during pre-season, as he clearly mentioned to the player that he will not be getting the game time he desires here. Camavinga has been surpassed by the likes of Federico Valverde, Aurelien Tchouameni and Bernardo Silva for a start in the line-ups.
Kone is represented by the same agency which manages Tchouameni, Excellence Sport Nation, owned by Jonathan Kebe and Jérémy Ramalingam. The agency maintains an amicable relationship with the Real Madrid management, and therefore, it has been fairly easy for the club to keep tabs on the midfielder. Real Madrid have also sent scouts to watch the 25-year-old live many times, and right now, he is being considered a long-term option instead of an immediate signing.
Kone is a true box-to-box midfielder who emphasises his resistance under pressure, ball-protecting abilities, and a gigantic work rate. He can play in a double pivot role if the team requires him to, but his natural capability lies in roaming the area in front of the defensive line to receive balls, intercept passes, and deliver passes to break the opposition's lines.
The Toulouse youth academy product is entirely a replacement option for Real Madrid in the event of any midfielder's departure. However, the player will stay on their radar and could become a real transfer possibility in the winter window.
Meanwhile, the UEFA Champions League draw revealed Real Madrid's opponents for the tournament's league phase clashes. They are set to face Inter Milan (home), Arsenal (away), PSV (home), Roma (away), RB Leipzig (home), Shakhtar Donetsk (away), LASK (home), AEK Athens (away). As for the Shakhtar match, Real will travel to Stamford Bridge.
