Manchester United has reached an agreement to sign Kone? The truth may require €60 million! Ederson renews contract and will not transfer.

Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand claimed that the club has agreed a deal with Roma to sign French international Kouadio Manu Kone. "Fabrizio Romano has just confirmed that Manchester United has agreed to sign French midfielder Kone from Roma for £45 million (€53 million)," Ferdinand said. However, he made a mistake, as Romano only confirmed that Manchester United had contacted Kone's agent; no agreement exists between the two clubs, and the Red Devils have not even submitted a bid yet.

The 25-year-old Kone has told his agent to postpone any transfer negotiations until after the World Cup. In other words, the battle for Kone will truly begin only after Saturday's World Cup third-place match between the French national team and the England national team.

Kone's agency is "Excellence Sport Nation (ESN)", which also represents Manchester United winger Mbeumo. Other stars under this agency include Real Madrid defensive midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni and Jules Kounde. Therefore, Manchester United has a close relationship with them.

However, to secure Kone, who has performed well in the World Cup, Manchester United may need to offer more transfer fees than expected, as several clubs have expressed interest. Chelsea is one of the competitors; during discussions about a potential transfer for Alejandro Garnacho, the two clubs mentioned Kone.

Italian newspaper *La Gazzetta dello Sport* reports that Manchester United and Chelsea are expected to submit offers to Roma within a few days. Also from the Premier League, Liverpool and Aston Villa have shown interest and may join the fray at any time. According to *Corriere dello Sport*, Kone's dream is to join Paris Saint-Germain, the two-time Champions League winners, but Luis Enrique's team has no plans to bring in a new midfielder. Therefore, the Premier League is now the most likely destination for Kone, with Manchester United being the frontrunner.

Kone is reportedly willing to play for Manchester United, and he will decide his future after the World Cup. Italian media believe that next week could be a crucial turning point. Roma hopes to take advantage of clubs driving up the price to secure €60 million (£51 million) in transfer fees, which would yield a profit of €40 million (£38 million), as Roma originally signed Kone for €20 million (£17 million).

Roma was fined £5 million this summer for failing to meet the targets set in the settlement agreement with UEFA and for having a squad expenditure ratio exceeding 70%. If they can achieve the desired profit from Kone's transfer, it could permanently resolve their dispute with UEFA.

Roma head coach Gian Piero Gasperini said: "The rules regarding financial fair play have never been entirely clear, and different clubs have different situations. It is undeniable that Roma must control the budget, which has indeed been a major challenge in recent years. I originally thought that qualifying for the Champions League would be enough, but the club's budget is very important and must be taken seriously. I think things will become clearer in the coming weeks."

As for Kone's future, Gasperini remained noncommittal: "Kone performed exceptionally well in the first half of last season, but missed some matches in the second half due to injury. He also performed very well in the World Cup. Last year he did not play for the French national team, but now he has earned a starting spot. This fully demonstrates his potential and the effort he has put in."

Italian media report that La Liga's Atletico Madrid has already made an initial offer, but it was rejected. Kone is now increasingly likely to transfer to the Premier League, which is his preferred destination apart from Paris Saint-Germain.

Premier League transfer expert Graeme Bailey said that Manchester United has confirmed Kone as an ideal midfield target, with his characteristics matching all the team's current needs. Kone is considered to have control similar to that of Modric and Toni Kroos, but his biggest advantage is his athleticism, which is exactly what Manchester United's current midfielders lack.

Manchester United had agreed to sign Brazilian midfielder Ederson for €45 million (£39 million), but the deal fell through after he failed two medicals. Although there were rumors that the Red Devils might still try to sign him at a reduced price before the summer window closes, Atalanta and the player are clearly unwilling to revisit the situation; they have officially announced a contract extension.

Atalanta did not disclose the length of Ederson's new contract, but it is rumored to run until 2031. Atalanta's statement read: "After four successful years together, Ederson has reached an agreement to continue his journey with Atalanta. The entire club wishes Ederson the best results both personally and as a team, as he continues to wear the Nerazzurri shirt."

The 27-year-old Ederson had only one year left on his contract, making it the perfect time to leave Atalanta. Unfortunately, his attempts to join La Liga's Atletico Madrid and Premier League's Manchester United both ended in failure. He has clearly become disheartened and will not consider a transfer at least this summer.