Manchester United are finally set to sign a midfielder with a deal for a 18-year-old wonderkid reportedly ‘100 per cent’ agreed.
Central midfield was a huge problem area for Man United last season, and Erik ten Hag’s failure to find the right solution was no-doubt a contributing factor in the club’s worst top flight campaign in over 30 years.
United parted with £70 million to sign Casemiro from Real Madrid in 2022, but last season he looked like a player approaching the end of his elite-level career.
Kobbie Mainoo of course has a huge future ahead of him, but he is not the holding No.6 United desperately need.
In an attempt to solve the issue long-term, United are set to sign a little-known 18-year-old who they hope will anchor their midfield for years to come.
On Thursday Fabrizio Romano reported that a deal is “100 per cent agreed and done” for Mali under-17s international Sekou Kone.
United will reportedly pay Malian side Guidars FC £1m – plus performance based add-ons – for the talented youngster after beating several other top clubs to his signature.
Kone will undergo a medical next week before joining up with United’s under-21s. Kone is part of United’s long-term plan, similar to Chido Obi Martin who joined the club from Arsenal earlier this month.
As reported by The Athletic, United are aware that Kone may take some time to adapt to the cultural change of moving to the UK from Mali, so will take a “steady approach to his integration.”
Kone impressed at last year’s under-17s FIFA World Cup in Indonesia as Mali beat Argentina to claim a third-place finish.
The teenager has a link to Tottenham Hotspur and Mali international Yves Bissouma, as both started their careers with the JMG academy in Bamako, Mali.
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