WHY RUBEN AMORIM BELIEVES MANU KONE IS THE ULTIMATE CASEMIRO REPLACEMENT
Manchester United told to pay £52m for Roma's Manu Kone. Plus, why the Jean-Philippe Mateta transfer is currently stuck in limbo.
Manchester United have been told they’ll need to pay £52 million if they want to beat out other big clubs for AS Roma’s Manu Kone.
Right now, United desperately needs help in a few spots. Ruben Amorim’s tactics aren’t exactly fixing things, either. Sure, the club had a decent summer—they managed to sell off most of their surplus players, and they spent around £230 million bringing in Benjamin Sesko, Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha, and Senne Lammens.
Sesko’s drawn some criticism, but honestly, Mbeumo, Cunha, and Lammens hit the ground running. They’ve already become key players for the team.
Everyone expects United to shake up their midfield this year. They’re hunting for someone to take over from Casemiro in the long run, and rumours keep swirling about possible exits for Bruno Fernandes, Kobbie Mainoo, and Manuel Ugarte.
Carlos Baleba, Elliot Anderson, and Adam Wharton have all been linked with moves to United. Now Manu Kone’s name is in the mix, too.
Apparently, Kone is seen as an ideal fit for Amorim’s squad. Italian journalist Francesca Teodori even claims the deal’s basically a done deal. She says she’s heard from several sources that Kone will leave Roma in June and join Manchester United. There’s some talk he could be involved in a swap deal with Joshua Zirkzee, but that part’s still up in the air. What’s clear isthat Kone wants the move, and the transfer could go through this summer.
Meanwhile, Calciomercato reports that Roma wants to keep Koné until the end of the season, and they’ve slapped a €60 million (£52m) price tag on him. They’re trying to hold off interest not just from United, but also Paris Saint-Germain and Atletico Madrid.
On top of that, United is having a tough time chasing Crystal Palace’s Jean-Philippe Mateta. According to journalist Dean Jones at TEAMtalk, Palace’s head coach Oliver Glasner is making everything more complicated. The word is, if Glasner leaves at the end of the season—which seems likely—Palace wants their next manager to help decide Mateta’s future. So, for now, that transfer’s stuck in limbo.
GARETH BARRY URGES MANCHESTER UNITED TO SIGN ELLIOT ANDERSON FOR £100M
Gareth Barry identifies Elliot Anderson as the ideal Casemiro replacement as the Brazilian prepares to leave Man Utd.
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Gareth Barry, the former Premier League midfielder, thinks Manchester United should target Elliot Anderson to take Casemiro’s place. Casemiro, now 34, already said he’s leaving Old Trafford when his contract ends this summer.
United’s decision not to extend Casemiro’s deal fits with their plan to shake up the squad. They paid Real Madrid an initial £60 million for him in 2022, and with add-ons, the deal reached £70 million. Casemiro’s on big wages around £300,000 a week, which gets closer to £350,000 if United make the Champions League. There’s also uncertainty about Manuel Ugarte’s future. With both potentially on the way out, plenty of names are being floated as replacements.
Carlos Baleba, Sandro Tonali, and Adam Wharton are all in the conversation, but Barry sees Anderson as the best option.
Talking to BOYLE Sports, Barry explained, “Manchester United will definitely be searching for someone to fill Casemiro’s shoes. Anderson isn’t the same kind of player, and there’s a big age difference, too. What he brings is pretty unique.
“I really rate Elliot Anderson. If you’re a United scout, you’re talking about him. Off the ball, there aren’t many better. He presses, he shuts down space, and he’s great at winning the ball back. Plus, he can play forward too.
“That’s why Thomas Tuchel starts him for England over some big names, and why he could easily start at the World Cup. I’m sure he’s getting discussed in various boardrooms, not just at Manchester United.
“If a move’s going to happen, it’s better to get it over the line quickly. It just makes everything smoother for both clubs and the player, especially with a big tournament coming up.”
Barry added, “No one wants uncertainty hanging over Anderson while he’s focused on England at the World Cup. It doesn’t help anyone. And if he has a standout tournament, his price could easily go up.
“So if everyone agrees it’s time for a move, getting the deal sorted before the World Cup just makes sense.”
Even so, Nottingham Forest won’t be keen to let Anderson go. Since joining Newcastle in 2024, he’s become a vital part of their midfield. Forest supposedly set its price at £100 million, but their relegation fight could change things. Right now, Vitor Pereira’s squad sits 16th in the table, just three points clear of the drop zone with seven games to play. names and
FA CHARGES HARRY MAGUIRE FOR "IMPROPER BEHAVIOR" FOLLOWING COSTLY BOURNEMOUTH DISMISSAL
Michael Carrick’s side faces a defensive crisis as Harry Maguire is charged by the FA for improper conduct.
Harry Maguire has been charged by the Football Association over his conduct following the red card he received in Manchester United’s 2-2 draw against Bournemouth.
The defender was sent off after officials judged that he pulled back Evanilson inside the penalty area during their Premier League meeting last month. Maguire challenged the decision with both referee Stuart Atwell and fourth official Matt Donohue once VAR confirmed the call.
That penalty allowed Junior Kroupi to score the equaliser, helping Bournemouth claw back a point against Michael Carrick’s side.
According to an FA statement, Maguire faces charges relating to improper behaviour and/or the use of abusive or insulting language towards the fourth official after his dismissal. He has until April 2 to respond to these allegations.
As things stand, Maguire is due to serve a one-match ban for the red card, which would rule him out of Manchester United's game against Leeds at Old Trafford on April 13. If his ban is extended following this charge, he could also miss the clash with Chelsea on April 18, an encounter that could be crucial, given United sit third and hold a seven-point cushion over sixth-placed Chelsea in the battle for Champions League spots.
Earlier, Daily Mail Sport reported that Manchester United lodged a formal complaint with the PGMOL after the Bournemouth draw. The club were particularly frustrated over a denied second penalty, where Amad Diallo appeared to be brought down in the box while they led 1-0. Bournemouth then equalised through Ryan Christie in the ensuing play, and a VAR review did not overturn the decision, which may have swung momentum considerably.
Inside the United camp, there’s a sense that Maguire’s foul, which led to Bournemouth's second equaliser, mirrored the unpunished challenge on Diallo involving Adrien Truffert. That comparison fuels their belief that some decisions during the game didn’t go their way.
