Manchester United are interested in securing the services of Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder Kouadio Kone this summer, according to reports. As we approach the transfer window, a new player is linked as potential target for the Red Devils with each ing day and the French youngster has been been identified as one of them.
Kouadio Kone is a box-to-box midfielder who ed Monchengladbach last year from Ligue 1 side Toulouse for £8.1m. He is a versatile player who can play both defensive and attacking midfield roles. Despite his club finishing tenth in the Bundesliga, the Frenchman has attracted interest from various clubs across Europe because of his spectacular performances.
New manager Erik ten Hag prefers a move for Frenkie de Jong but negotiations have stalled with no Champions League football a concern for the Dutchman. Therefore, Kone has emerged as a cheaper alternative to solve the midfield crisis at Old Trafford.
According to L’Equipe (via The Hard Tackle), Manchester United are among the top clubs keen on g Kouadio Kone this summer. The Red Devils have already made initial with the Monchengladbach midfielder to discuss the possibility of a potential move.
Moreover, the 21-year-old is open to a move away, given the club failed to qualify for European football at any level. Nevertheless, De Jong is the primary target for Ten Hag and wants to keep the Frenchman as a back-up target if a transfer fails to materialise for the Barcelona midfielder.
Player Profile
After breaking into the Toulouse first-team, he played an important role for the Ligue 1 side in the 2020/21 campaign which helped him gain interest from big clubs. He became a regular starter for Monchengladbach this season with 27 league appearances (according to Transfermarkt).
Kone is always looking for the ball, specifically in phases of buildup and is also capable of exploring space and scanning the surroundings for free players. This is an area where United have struggled with Mctominay and Fred getting cramped for space and conceding possession to opposition players.
Manchester United reportedly interested in Kouadio Koné from Borrusia Mönchengladbach according to @lequipe
This performance against Bayern was simply beautiful. Ralf Rangnick has apparently been impressed by him for a while too. https://t.co/Ko3z7xxsvf
— 𝗧𝗲𝗻 𝗛𝗮𝗴’𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝗱𝘀 ✍🏼🇳🇱 (@TenHagBall_) May 26, 2022
His quick movement translates into a connecting line between picking the ball from deep midfield and bringing it into attacking midfield. At the same time, he performs a lot of off-the-ball movements to confuse the opposition midfielders into making errors. He doesn’t have the elite attacking capabilities yet to provide occasional goals but with Bruno Fernandes in the lineup, it might not be a concern.
He has a stronger right foot and knows how to get through the midfield traps with smart manoeuvring which sees him angle his body away from the opponent. His low centre of gravity makes him very resistant to pressure and can counter from these positions. His few weaknesses include that he is sometimes a victim of ball watching and allows players to drift past him easily. He will need to develop his long ball skills and back-tracking to become a world-class player at Old Trafford.
Read More:
- Manchester United Contemplating Making an Official Bid for €65m Rated Bundesliga Star
- Ralf Rangnick’s Departure Adds Pressure on John Murtough and Erik Ten Hag Heading Into the Summer
- Newcastle Looking to Sign Manchester United Star on Loan in a Swap Deal
Verdict
ing for his current form, the 21-year-old appears to fit in as a link player in a midfield three, but a role just off a sole number six seems potentially optimal given his ball-progressing skills. Kone has started 90% of Monchengladbach’s league games this season, scoring twice from midfield. His tough tackling and incisive ing make him a real standout.
At 6ft 1in, he’s physically imposing and looks ready to become a top player of the game. If Manchester United fail to get Frenkie De Jong or Aurelien Tchouameni due to excessive competition, Kouadio Kone could be a shrewd g.
However, the Red Devils Juventus will need to snatch him up quickly, with Juventus and Atletico Madrid also interested in the midfielder. His concentration span and defensive shortcomings will be deciding factors for bigger sides, regarding whether they want to take a gamble on him.
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