PSG Close In on Roma Striker? Actually Midfield Star Manu Kone Sparks UEFA Transfer Buzz
13 October 2025
PSG Close in on Roma Star Manu Kone As UEFA Rules Tilt Transfer Odds
Italian media report that Paris Saint-Germain is weighing a surprise bid of around 60 million euros to sign Roma and France midfielder Manu Kone, who has been delivering strong form for club and country.
Roma value Kone at around 50 million euros, but PSG are keen to push beyond the asking price in order to deter other bidders and seal the deal without prolonging negotiations with the Giallorossi.
The 24-year-old has been a strong contributor for France, even though he sat on the bench in the 3-0 win over Azerbaijan and is expected to start against Iceland later tonight.
According to Italian press, everyone is smitten with Kone right now, and his family, friends, former teammates, and locals have given interviews in recent weeks, signaling that he could soon become a fixture of the national team under coach Didier Deschamps.
Right now, Roma appear reluctant to part with one of their emerging stars, especially after a bright start to the Serie A campaign where they share the lead with Napoli before the October international break.
Yet UEFA regulations could influence Roma to soften their stance, given that Roma signed Kone for a modest 18 million euros last summer. A 60 million euro bid from PSG would look a sizable leap and could restructure Roma’s balance sheet without lengthy negotiation.
Europa League dynamics could also play a part, as UEFA rules might sway Roma to reconsider and allow Kone to move to Paris, especially after he nearly joined Inter Milan the previous summer.
Inter had shown earlier interest, but a move did not materialize as Roma stood firm in the market.
Roma previously plucked the player from Borussia Monchengladbach in a five-year deal
Roma secured Manu Kone from Borussia Monchengladbach with an agreement that runs until 2029, including a reported annual salary around 3 million euros and a transfer fee that reached about 20 million plus bonuses up to 5 million.
Inter's pursuit and Roma’s current form
Inter Milan briefly pursued Kone after a disappointing summer in the market for midfield options, but Roma continued with their plan to build a competitive squad under their new coach this season.
The capital club began the campaign with two wins (1-0 over Bologna and Pisa) before a home defeat to Torino, then bounced back with decisive derby wins against Lazio (1-0) and consecutive victories over Verona and Fiorentina, placing Roma level with Napoli at the top, with the best points haul in Italy after six rounds.
Currently, Roma sit second in Serie A while Napoli lead on goal difference, Napoli at +6 and Roma at +5, signaling a strong campaign for a side rebuilding under a new tactical setup.
In Europe, Roma opened their Europa League campaign with a 2-1 away win at Nice but then fell 1-0 to Lille on home soil, collecting 3 points from six and sitting sixteenth overall in their pool.
What will the next chapters bring for Roma and Manu Kone remains uncertain as transfer talk intensifies in a market where a single bid can redraw the map of European football.
Punchline 1: If Kone signs for PSG, Roma might finally get a midfielder who can pass to someone other than the ball boy. Punchline 2: And if not, well, the transfer saga will keep boosting pageviews higher than Roma’s points tally in the league… for now.
