The club’s financial experts would probably have chosen the money. But Gian Piero Gasperini thinks only about what happens on the pitch, which is why he blocked Manu Kone’s move to Chelsea, even though it would have made him the second-most expensive sale in Roma’s history.
Chelsea, spurred by the possibility of Enzo Fernandez moving to Manchester City for 140,000,000 euros or more, began searching for his replacement and were prepared to spend big. According to Italian media reports, Roma received an offer worth 60,000,000 euros plus Jamie Gittens on a season-long loan. And it was no coincidence that Gittens’ name was included in the equation, because Roma had already planned to offer Chelsea 5,000,000 euros for the 22-year-old winger’s loan, with an option to buy for 55,000,000 euros.
However, given that Kone was comfortably Roma’s best player last season, the head coach’s answer when asked whether the midfielder was leaving the club was crystal clear.“Absolutely not! That’s a media story. Nobody has spoken to me about it… And I know the owners haven’t agreed to his sale either, so we have to categorically deny this” Gasperini said that after last night’s 4-0 victory over Lecce.
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However, there really was an offer, something all the media in Italy and England agree on. The Italian outlets even claim that the owners of the two clubs, Americans Dan Friedkin and Todd Boehly, discussed Kone directly, but Gasperini’s opposition brought the deal to a halt. Roma still want Gittens, while Chelsea have reportedly turned their attention to Monaco’s Lamine Camara, offering 45,000,000 euros, including bonuses, for his services.
Apparently, that is not enough.Someone has to arrive too – Manu Kone caught Man City’s attentionAs for Roma, they are still looking to strengthen their attack and have offered Zenit 5,000,000 euros for a loan and 30,000,000 euros for a potential purchase of Luiz Henrique. Jamie Leweling is moving further and further away from Rome, with the Stuttgart winger himself reportedly unwilling even to consider a package worth 35,000,000 euros plus bonuses. Meanwhile, Fulham have set their sights on Matías Soule, Rayan Vaz is expected to join Hull City, while El Aynaoui is on his way to Leipzig.