Reports from Italy suggest that Newcastle United have made an approach for Manu Kone, the talented young midfielder who is rapidly growing in reputation across Europe.
The story has come from TMW, who claim that Newcastle expressed strong interest in the Frenchman but were met with resistance from AS Roma, who are unwilling to let the player leave at this stage of the season.
Kone, now 24, has become a key figure for both Roma and the French national team. His journey to Italy began at Toulouse, where he broke into professional football, before he moved on to Borussia Mönchengladbach in Germany.
It was during his time in the Bundesliga that he truly announced himself, showing a rare mix of athleticism, defensive intelligence and confidence on the ball.
After catching the eye of several top clubs, he completed a move to Roma in the summer of 2024. The deal was initially an obligation-based loan worth around £15 million, and it quickly proved to be excellent business for the Italian side.
According to reports, Newcastle made an enquiry about his availability, but Roma immediately rejected the approach. This is not the first time they have pushed away interest in the player, with Inter Milan also said to have tried and failed to sign him earlier in the summer.
Roma appear determined to hold on to him, and it is easy to see why. Kone has become one of the cornerstones of their midfield, offering energy, composure and discipline in a team that has surprised many observers this season.
Kone is under contract until 2029, giving Roma a strong negotiating position. His current salary is believed to be around €2.8m a year, roughly £50,000 per week, which is considered modest by Premier League standards.
Roma are already working on improving that deal, hoping to secure him on a longer and more substantial contract to fend off the growing interest from across Europe.
Roma themselves have gone through a period of instability, having worked under three different managers last season. Despite that turbulence, the club still managed to finish fifth in Serie A, which gave them a platform for this season’s impressive start.
Under their new setup, they have emerged as one of the surprise packages of the league and currently sit at the top of the table. A big part of their success has come from their balance and structure in midfield, with Kone playing every single minute of Roma’s 12 league matches so far. His consistency, reliability and influence have made him almost undroppable.
From Newcastle’s perspective, the links to Kone come at a time when the club are understood to be exploring midfield options ahead of the January transfer window. Eddie Howe is believed to want more depth and dynamism in the middle of the pitch, especially with injuries and inconsistency affecting his current options.
There have already been rumours surrounding their interest in 19-year-old Dutch talent Kees Smit from AZ Alkmaar, a player regarded as one of Europe’s brightest young midfielders.
Wednesday also brought claims that Joe Willock has become a target for Crystal Palace, which only fuels speculation that Newcastle may be preparing to reshape parts of their midfield group.
While the club’s interest in Kone shows ambition and a desire to strengthen with quality, the reality is that Roma are highly unlikely to consider any offer in January. Kone has become too important to their system, especially while they are competing at the top of Serie A.
Not only is he young and improving, but his style is perfectly suited to the intensity and physicality of Italian football. Losing him mid-season would be a major setback for Roma, and they know that any potential replacement would require time to settle.
For Newcastle, it may simply be a case of testing the waters ahead of a future window, or keeping communication open for the long term. But for now, Kone seems firmly out of reach.
What this story does show, however, is that the club are continuing to monitor top-level players across Europe, ensuring they are ready to act when the right opportunity comes along.
