Premier League Giants ‘Make Contact’ Over France World Cup Ace

Arsenal are gearing up for a very busy summer transfer window. Having just won the Premier League title for the first time since 2004, Mikel Arteta isn’t keen to simply rest on his laurels – he is already looking for ways to improve his existing squad ahead of the 2026/27 campaign.

Recently, the Gunners have been linked with a move for AS Roma midfielder Manu Kone. According to a report from DajeRoma TV, Arsenal have ‘made contact’ with the player’s representatives ahead of a possible move.

Nevertheless, Arsenal aren’t alone in their pursuit of the 25-year-old. Teams such as Manchester United [via GIVEMESPORT] and Aston Villa [via Dajeromatv] are also thought to be in the mix, making competition for his signature fierce.

That’s not all, either. Back in January, Liverpool were also linked with a move for Kone’s services [via TalkSPORT], but it is unclear if their interest will carry over into the summer.

Kone will travel with the France squad to take part in the 2026 World Cup – this, of course, could have ramifications in Arsenal’s efforts to bring him on board. If he has a successful tournament and manages to stand out from amongst the pack, his stock will rise – making a potential transfer all the more difficult to secure.

Manu Kone 2025/26 Serie A stats

	Games	Goals	Assists	Yellow Cards	Red Cards
Manu Kone	29	2	3	2	0

Manu Kone was a near-constant presence in Roma’s midfield last season. While not a major goal threat, he did a lot of industrious work within the middle of the park, breaking up play and offering himself as a reliable passing option.

He isn’t the sort of midfielder who can open up a defence with a swift drop of the shoulder or an incisive pass, but he is very good at carrying the ball through the lines and laying off passes to his more creative teammates. With a passing completion rate of 90.4% in Serie A last season, he rarely gives the ball away – furthermore, he is also very good at winning fouls.

In this sense, he is an excellent player to have in the modern game. Many goals – especially so in the Premier League – come through advantageous turnovers in possession. Kone rarely allows this to happen, making him a very steady hand to have on any team’s books.

What would Manu Kone bring to Arsenal if signed?

An adaptable midfielder with bags of energy and a footballing IQ well beyond his years, Kone can function effectively as both a box-to-box midfielder and as a defensive midfielder.

The Gunners already have two very capable holding players in the form of Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi, so Kone will probably fulfil the box-to-box role in Arsenal’s midfield three if purchased.

He is very solid defensively – furthermore, his work at the back is also very clean. Last season, he picked up just two yellow cards over the course of 29 Serie A games, with no red cards or second yellows to speak of.

Arsenal have some excellent midfielders on their books – they might need to sell one or two of them to avoid Kone being lost in the mix, but cream rises to the top. We’re sure that he would be able to make a name for himself, even amongst some of the Premier League’s top players.