Manchester United has contacted Kone but considers Roma's asking price too high! Sir Jim Ratcliffe may abandon signing a €80 million-level midfielder.

Manchester United has spoken with the agent of Khephren Thuram-Kone but has not yet agreed on any terms with Roma. L'Equipe reports that United has opened formal talks with Roma regarding Kone's move, giving them an edge over Premier League competitors Arsenal, Chelsea, and Liverpool. Still, it is only preliminary. After signing Andre Santos and Youri Tielemans, United is evaluating various targets and has not yet decided on a third midfielder.

The 25-year-old Kone made five appearances for France in the World Cup and is now eager to move to England. United admires his performances, but The Athletic's Laurie Whitwell reveals that owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe appears to have shifted his initial plans and may now be reluctant to sign a £80 million-level midfielder. Moreover, his INEOS team does not consider Kone to be in that price bracket.

Whitwell explains: "I'm hesitant to make a definitive judgment because United's plans have clearly changed as the summer window progresses. You wouldn't call Kone a superstar—I don't think he is. He's never going to be a £100 million player, right? I don't think so. I've spoken to some sources and got the sense that Roma's asking price, though below his usual valuation, is still too high for United."

Although Roma have regained Champions League qualification, they face UEFA sanctions and still need to sell players to raise funds, and Kone remains the most likely candidate to generate a significant cash influx for the Giallorossi.

On Transfermarkt, Kone is valued at €50 million, and with three years left on his contract, reports suggest Roma want €60 million, which doesn't seem unreasonable. However, United owner Ratcliffe often has unique standards that differ from the norm.

The Red Devils' owner has praised recent signings, especially the low-cost acquisition of Youri Tielemans. The Belgian midfielder, who cost just £35 million, is currently on holiday and is expected to return to fitness in early August; his minor hamstring issue during the World Cup is not a concern. Ratcliffe has requested a pause in transfers this week to assess the market.

United correspondent Samuel Luckhurst says that after a flurry of official signings last week, Ratcliffe now wants the club to shift into selling mode and halt transfer progress. The Sun reports that United plans to sell some academy youngsters. Ratcliffe has previously complained that United cannot generate substantial funds from selling youth products, lagging far behind local rivals Manchester City in this regard.

Dan Gore could be one of the players United hopes to sell for a decent price this summer. He was loaned to Rotherham last season and was named the club's Player of the Year. Although the team was ultimately relegated to League Two, Gore believes he is ready for first-team football at age 21 and needs to take the next step.

Gore played in the second half of United's first pre-season friendly, but he may struggle to make it in the Premier League. Michael Carrick will also decide the fate of several other young United players, such as the Fletcher brothers Jack and Tyler, Jacob Devaney, and Jim Thwaites, who may be loaned out or sold outright.

Leaving United is not the end of the world for young players; many have found great success after moving on, such as Danny Drinkwater winning the Premier League with Leicester City and James Garner becoming an England international at Everton.