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Analysis
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Man Utd spark €30m Celtic transfer domino
18 Jul 2026 14:02 BST |
4 min read
News
Manchester United's pursuit of AS Roma midfielder Manu Kone could have major ramifications for Celtic's summer business.
The Red Devils are looking to sign their third midfielder of the summer after wrapping up deals for Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans. Atalanta star Ederson was initially supposed to be the man for the job, but Man Utd pulled out of the deal, and he has now signed a new contract in Bergamo.
It is not yet entirely clear who Man Utd's next top target is. They have been linked with Rangers dynamo Nicolas Raskin, while reliable sources have also confirmed that contact has been made with the entourage of Roma star Kone.
Current ETV
Manu Kone
M (C)
Roma
Manu Kone
M (C)
Roma
ETV Range
€44.6M - €54.5M
The France international is set to be available for talks after today's third-place playoff between Les Bleus and England at the World Cup, and things could accelerate in the coming days. Roma need to balance the books and are believed to be open to offers in excess of €50 million.
Kone could be the ideal final piece of the puzzle for Man Utd in their midfield rebuild, with the 25-year-old having impressed at the World Cup. It is believed that agreeing personal terms with the Roma man won't be an issue.
Kone to Man Utd, Engels to Roma?
The Serie A giants are braced for the departure of their star midfielder and have been scouring the market for potential reinforcements. Although the main priority this summer is strengthening the attack, they will have to sign an adequate replacement for Kone.
And one player they are long-standing admirers of is Celtic star Arne Engels. According to Gazzetta dello Sport, the Belgian is a key target for Roma this summer.
The Italian outlet believes that the 22-year-old is eminently affordable for the Giallorossi and claims that his price tag is €20m-€25m. However, it is difficult to believe that Celtic would be willing to sell him for less than a club-record €30m after rebuffing offers in that ballpark in January.
What is clear, though, is that Engels is keen to take the next step in his career. Roma face Premier League competition for his signature - January suitors Nottingham Forest remain interested - and also have Botafogo star Danilo and recent Marseille signing Quinten Timber on their shortlist.
Kone is still a Roma player as things stand, so there won't be any concrete movement for Engels at this stage. Once Man Utd get serious over their pursuit of the Frenchman, the first midfield domino will fall.
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