Report: Arsenal reach Kone agreement as Roma ask for €50m

Arsenal have reportedly agreed personal terms with Manu Koné and are pushing to complete a deal with Roma before the end of the month, with the French midfielder identified as Mikel Arteta’s primary midfield target this summer.

According to Gazzetta dello Sport, via CalcioMercato, Koné, currently on World Cup duty with France, is understood to strongly favour a move to the Premier League, preferring Arsenal to both Atletico Madrid and Inter Milan, who had tracked him extensively last season.

The reigning English champions and Champions League finalists represent exactly the kind of challenge the Frenchman is seeking, though his entourage are in no rush to force a resolution while the World Cup is ongoing.

Roma need to generate significant capital gains before June 30 to satisfy their UEFA settlement agreement, and with Borussia Dortmund and Aston Villa making only tentative moves for Matias Soulé without submitting formal offers, the Koné route is becoming increasingly attractive as a solution.

Roma are asking €50 million for the midfielder, which would generate a profit of approximately €38 million given his residual book value of around €12 million.

Gasperini is prepared to sanction the sale, with the funds earmarked to pursue Mason Greenwood and potentially Crysencio Summerville.

Ismael Koné of Sassuolo has been identified as the ideal midfield replacement should the deal go through.