"He is for me today the best midfielder in France," Patrick Vieira told mirror.co.uk about Manu Koné. That is a big claim on its own, but it lands at a useful moment for Manchester United, who are weighing up a move while the price keeps moving. Koné's World Cup has clearly inflated the conversation around him. Whether United can still make the numbers work is a different question.

Vieira did not leave much room for doubt in his assessment. He said Koné should be placed ahead of Aurélien Tchouaméni and Adrien Rabiot because of his mobility, aggression, ball-winning and ability in the build-up. For a midfielder being discussed as a defensive and physical option, that is exactly the kind of endorsement that changes the tone of a transfer story.

Koné's tournament form gives the praise some weight. He posted a 7.2 rating across five World Cup appearances, and reports say his price rose from €50m to at least €60m after those performances. He was also said to have pushed Tchouaméni to the bench and to have been missed when he was dropped for the semi-final against Spain.

That is why the United interest feels logical enough, even if it is not close to completion. United finished 3rd in the 2025 Premier League with 71 points, so this is a squad still being refined rather than rebuilt from scratch. A midfielder who can win the ball and carry it forward fits the profile being discussed around their next addition.

Koné's market has changed

The World Cup looks like the key reason this deal has become harder. Before the tournament, the price being discussed was lower. After it, several outlets pushed the valuation upward, with €60m appearing more than once and other reports describing AS Roma's demands as more than €50m.

That does not mean there is one settled fee. There isn't. Teamtalk.com carried Laurie Whitwell saying Roma's price point, even if reduced from what Koné would typically be worth, might still be too rich for United. He also made clear that plans can shift as the summer develops, which is a sensible note of caution in a story where the valuations are not aligned.

Roma's own position adds another layer. They finished 3rd in Serie A, yet the reporting around the club still points to financial pressure and a willingness to listen to offers. That is not the same as saying a sale is inevitable, and it definitely is not proof that Koné will be available on United's terms.

United's talks and the price problem

The reporting on United's approach is slightly messy. Some outlets say formal talks with Roma have begun, while Romano's version is more restrained. Speaking via football365.com, he said United appreciate Koné, have had contact with the player's agents, but have made no bid and had no club-to-club contact yet.

That difference matters because it changes how close this really is. If the agent-contact version is the more accurate one, United are still at the assessment stage. If the formal-talks version is right, the club have moved a little further down the road. Either way, the price remains the main obstacle in front of them.

There is competition as well. Arsenal are being mentioned among the interested clubs, and that usually does one thing in this type of market: it makes selling clubs firmer, not softer. United may like the player, but they are not operating in a quiet deal where they can control the pace.

Vieira's comments have probably made Koné easier to sell as an idea than as a transfer. He has given a very public argument for why top clubs should want him, and the World Cup evidence supports that view. For United, the harder part is deciding whether a midfielder with that profile is worth pursuing at a price that still seems to be climbing while the status of talks remains disputed.

FAQ

Will Manchester United sign Manu Koné this summer?

Manchester United are interested in Manu Koné, but the move is not advanced enough to treat as close. Reports conflict on whether formal talks with Roma have started, while Fabrizio Romano says there has been agent contact only, with no bid and no club-to-club contact yet. Price is another complication.

Why are clubs so interested in Manu Koné after the World Cup?

Patrick Vieira gave the strongest public endorsement, calling Koné the best midfielder in France and praising his mobility, ball-winning and ability to break lines. His World Cup also appears to have shifted his market, with a 7.21 rating across five appearances and reports that his valuation rose after the tournament.

How much does Roma want for Manu Koné?

The valuation is not settled. Different reports put Roma's asking price at more than €50m, at least €60m, or around £45m-£50m. The safe reading is that his World Cup increased the price and made the deal harder, even if the exact figure still depends on which report you trust.

Are Arsenal also trying to sign Manu Koné?

Arsenal are being mentioned as rivals in the race for Koné, but there is no verified bid attached to their interest in this reporting. They are part of the competition around the player, alongside Manchester United and Liverpool, which only adds to the pressure on any club trying to negotiate with Roma.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 7 outlets. How we work →