If the reports from Germany are believed to be true, Newcastle United receive a boost in pursuit of their summer target Manu Kone. The Magpies were ready to splash a fee of around €35m for the Borussia Mönchengladbach star, but the Bundesliga outfit opted not to entertain any offer for their prized asset who only joined them a year back.
Meanwhile, Gladbach’s Director of Football Roland Virkus has admitted that the Frenchman could be sold at some point amid growing interest.
“I’d be lying if I said we would never sell him. There have already been inquiries for Manu, but we don’t have to sell him yet. The boy must want to take his next step to a club that is significantly bigger than Gladbach, and we also have to be satisfied.”
Virkus told Sport Bild in a recent interview while discussing the future of an array of first-team footballers.
The 21-year-old France youth international spent his youth spells with Villeneuve-la-Garenne, Paris FC and Boulogne-Billancourt before joining Toulouse. After a couple of years with the reserves, Kone was eventually promoted to Les Violets’ senior setup. Although they suffered relegation in 2020, the youngster was the only shining light who grabbed the attention of the European scouts.
Why Newcastle United Must Reignite Interest In Kone
Despite playing in Ligue 2, Kone was roped in by Die Borussen in January 2021 who sent him back to Toulouse for the remainder of the season. There he flourished significantly in the middle of the park and faced little trouble to attune to the challenges of German football. With 3 goals and 1 assist in 36 appearances, the young midfield ace is showing his expertise both as a box-to-box and deep-lying playmaker.
Newcastle United are currently the world’s richest club following the Saudi-led takeover. They might have made some statement signings, but the managerial masterclass of Eddie Howe has helped them rise from the ruins. He has converted Joelinton into an outright ‘number 8’, whereas the arrival of Bruno Guimarães has bolstered them at the base of a three-man midfield.
Having said that, the addition of the Gladbach prospect would offer more physicality as well as technical attributes in the centre of the pitch. He could be the driving force with his ability to carry the ball forward from the deep to operate in the advanced areas. The likes of Joe Willock, Sean Longstaff and Jonjo Shelvey are working hard to keep the standards high, but a player of Kone’s calibre should be a natural fit given his majestic run of form in Die Fohlen colours.
