Milan are seeking a defensive midfielder and Manu Kone of Borussia Monchengladbach has emerged as an alternative to AS Monaco’s Youssouf Fofana.
The Rossoneri have been pursuing Fofana for months and he has agreed personal terms with them, but getting a deal done with his club is proving more difficult.
Patience could well be key in this situation, because the player is only under contract until June 2025 and therefore could potentially leave as a free agent next summer.
Monaco are already lowering the original €35m asking price, but Milan do not seem intent on offering more than €20m including add-ons.
Manu Kone candidate for Milan
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Manu Kone has emerged as an alternative to Fofana on the transfer market.
He only turned 23 in May, so is two years younger than Fofana, while his contract with Borussia Monchengladbach runs to June 2026.
They only purchased him from Toulouse FC in 2021 for €9m and are believed to be asking for €30m, though could sell for closer to €25m.
So they both have rather similar tactical and technical characteristics, fairly similar price-tags too.