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Manchester United continue to search for the final piece to complete their midfield overhaul, but if they believe Manu Kone is the answer, they could be mistaken.

Following the arrivals of Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans, United have significantly strengthened their midfield options after Casemiro’s exit on a free transfer and Manuel Ugarte’s long-term injury.

However, while the squad now looks balanced in numbers and Premier League experience, United still lack a specific type of midfielder — one who can sit deep and protect the defence. Manager Michael Carrick, ironically, needs a version of himself in that role.

Although Carrick functioned more as a deep-lying playmaker rather than a ball-winning enforcer, his positioning in front of the backline was crucial. This highlights that there are varying profiles of defensive midfielders, and United risk misjudging Kone’s role if they see him as a pure holding player.

Kone’s standout performances for France at the World Cup have increased his profile, though international tournaments can be deceptive indicators of a player’s consistency. In Kone’s case, however, they accurately showcase his quality.

Now 25, Kone is entering his prime after five seasons across Europe’s top leagues — three in the Bundesliga with Borussia Monchengladbach and two in Serie A with Roma. Since joining Roma on the final day of the 2024 summer window, he has quickly become one of their most valued assets.

Yet Kone’s defensive work did not draw as much attention as his dynamic ball-carrying. He often surged forward, shrugging off challenges and driving his team up the pitch — a style more typical of a number eight than a number six.

That changed somewhat in his second season under Gian Piero Gasperini, who restricted his forward movement and asked him to tuck into Roma’s defensive line during build-up play. Though Kone still performed well, his influence became less visible compared to his debut campaign.

United must therefore understand that Kone is most effective when given the license to operate box-to-box rather than being confined to a deep-lying role. The club has previously misused midfielders — the failed Fred and Scott McTominay partnership being a prime example, where both were deployed in unsuitable defensive duties leading to an unbalanced double pivot.

Since then, United have struggled to restore midfield stability. Casemiro offered leadership and experience but arrived too late in his career to be a long-term solution, joining at 30 in 2022. They then turned to Ugarte, whose Ligue 1 tackling stats at PSG failed to translate effectively to United’s system.

Neither Tielemans nor Santos were signed to play as the deepest midfielder, but United appear to see Kone as a potential candidate for that role. While he can fill in there if needed, it would greatly limit his forward bursts — the very aspect that defines his game.

Data supports this. Last season, Kone ranked in the 78th percentile among Serie A midfielders for average progressive carry distance — and that was during a campaign when he advanced less frequently.

However, there are still areas in which Kone must improve to elevate his game further. His biggest weakness remains his shooting; with only four goals in 82 appearances for Roma, he lacks conviction in front of goal. As Gasperini commented after Kone netted his first goal of the 2025–26 season, “If he scored more, he probably wouldn’t be at Roma — he’d already be at a higher level. But that’s an area where he can improve.”

Since then, Kone has played 22 more matches for club and country, scoring just once. This reinforces the perception that he is more defensively inclined than he truly is. At his core, Kone is a central midfielder who contributes defensively but thrives with attacking freedom.

The question remains whether his low goal and assist output might make him overpriced. In today’s inflated market, it’s hard to judge — Elliot Anderson recorded fewer than ten goal contributions last season yet secured a £116 million move to Manchester City. Similarly, Tottenham spent £85 million on Mateus Fernandes, another midfielder United had considered before withdrawing.

Roma reportedly value Kone at around £50 million or higher. The World Cup will have boosted his stock further, and they previously rejected a £38 million bid from Inter last year. Any potential buyer must be clear about what kind of player they are purchasing.

Kone also has room to refine his off-the-ball movement during possession phases. He sometimes fails to position himself effectively to receive passes or inadvertently obstructs passing lanes. For a defensive midfielder, positional discipline is vital.

United’s 4-2-3-1 setup might help mitigate such issues. In tandem with Tielemans or Santos, Kone could form a balanced pairing where one pushes up while the other holds. The key, however, would be ensuring equal responsibility between the two.

At the World Cup, Kone played in similar partnerships for France — alongside Adrien Rabiot against Iraq, Paraguay and Morocco, and with Aurelien Tchouameni against Norway and Spain. Both partners provided the defensive stability that allowed Kone to adjust his positioning. At Roma, Bryan Cristante often filled that same supporting role, though he tended to push forward slightly more.

For United, the formula should be simple: when Tielemans advances, Kone stays, and when Kone goes forward, Tielemans holds. That balance would be crucial to unlocking Kone’s full potential.

Other clubs have shown interest too. Atletico Madrid, Arsenal, and Liverpool have all been linked in recent months. At Arsenal, Kone could benefit from playing alongside Martin Zubimendi, similar to how Declan Rice flourished once given freedom to push forward. However, Arsenal now appear to be focusing on Bruno Guimaraes, leaving Liverpool as a possible destination. The Reds had previously monitored Kone during his time in Germany and might see him as a fit for Andoni Iraola’s 4-2-3-1 system, partnering Ryan Gravenberch.

There’s no doubt Kone is a talented midfielder with both strengths and limitations. Time remains on his side to develop further. If he does move to the Premier League this summer, his next club will be gaining a player of high calibre — provided they deploy him in a role that plays to his natural abilities.