Chelsea has its sights set on World Cup standout Manu Kone, and with Roma — the midfielder's current club — showing interest in Alejandro Garnacho, the stage is set for a potential swap deal between the two teams.
Manu Kone has had a very good World Cup representing France. At this point, they are already in the semifinals, where they will face Spain, which promises to be one of the best matches of the tournament. Thanks to the player's performance, several teams are increasingly interested in securing his services. Arsenal and Chelsea are the main candidates to land the player.
This is where the Blues must be smart and take advantage of Roma's interest — the team that owns Kone — in Alejandro Garnacho, who has been practically discarded by the board. To the point where he received instructions not to show up for training at the start of this preseason to avoid any type of injury and to be able to sell him at some point during the summer.
In recent days, it has become known that Roma is looking for a quality left winger who can contribute to the team. In the Italian capital, they firmly believe that Serie A can be an excellent place for the Argentine to redeem himself, after a season to forget.
Not so much for his football performance, which was indeed below what Chelsea expected of him, but for multiple controversies that increasingly distanced him from the board and the fans.
Without a doubt, a swap deal could become a viable option for both teams. However, if we compare Kone's season in Italy with Garnacho's in England, there is indeed a significant difference. So Chelsea would not avoid putting money on the table, or would have to be very good at negotiating to avoid it.
Kone made 29 appearances in Serie A last season and stands out for his defensive ability. He recorded 49 successful tackles and 127 ball recoveries, which is also evident if you watch any of the French national team's recent World Cup matches.
Chelsea fans do not look unfavorably upon the possible arrival of the Frenchman at Stamford Bridge, as the pairing with Moises Caicedo would recall the mythical midfield with N'Golo Kante and Nemanja Matic that won the Premier League nearly a decade ago.
Without a doubt, with several weeks still left in the transfer window, the squad we know today can change quite a bit. What we hope is that it is only for the better — if there are players who are not fully committed to the project, let them leave. And those who arrive, let them have a winning mentality so this team can shine next season.
