Arsenal make fresh contact over €40m Manu Kone

Roma need to raise around €50m and Kone is one of the players who could generate a major profit.

Manu Kone of AS Roma celebrates after scoring the team's second goal during the Serie A match between AS Roma and Genoa CFC at Stadio Olimpico on December 29, 2025 in Rome, Italy — Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images

Arsenal have reportedly returned to Manu Kone’s camp as Roma consider selling key players before the end of June to meet the terms of their UEFA settlement agreement.

According to Corriere della Sera, Arsenal first made a move for the 25-year-old a few months ago and have now “come back again”, contacting his entourage.

Roma have not yet received a formal bid, but the report presents Arsenal as one of the main clubs seriously tracking the midfielder.

Roma are said to need around €50m in capital gains by June 30, which has placed several saleable players under scrutiny.

Kone and Matias Soule are highlighted as two of the clearest candidates because their remaining book values are low, around €15m each, compared with the fees Roma could demand.

Manu Kone of AS Roma and Teun Koopmeiners of Juventus battle for possession during the Serie A match between AS Roma and Juventus FC at Stadio Olimpico — Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images

Kone is valued by Roma at between €40m and €50m, meaning a sale would create a significant profit on their books.

That financial pressure gives Arsenal a possible opening, particularly with the Italian club actively weighing up which assets could be moved before the deadline.

The France international joined Roma from Borussia Monchengladbach in June 2024 for €18m and has mostly been used as a central midfielder, operating as a No 6 or No 8 hybrid.

Kone is currently at the World Cup with France, which keeps him visible at a time when Roma’s financial position may force them into decisions they would otherwise prefer to avoid.

Manu Kone of AS Roma and Pierre Kalulu of Juventus battle for possession during the Serie A match between AS Roma and Juventus FC at Stadio Olimpico on March 01, 2026 — Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images

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