Manchester United are set to add to the club’s midfield depth with the Red Devils closing in on the signing of Sekou Kone.
Fabrizio Romano reported that Manchester United are set to win the race for teenage midfielder Sekou Kone. The Red Devils beat off competition from across Europe to pull off the signing of the Mali youth international midfielder.
United have made additions to the first team throughout the summer with the Red Devils making four signings and it could soon be five with United closing in on the signing of Manuel Ugarte.
United also clinched the signing of Arsenal’s Chido Obi-Martin after the forward decided to depart the North London club. Dan Ashworth has received credit and rightly so this summer but one under-the-radar appointment certainly deserves credit.
Kone deal has Christopher Vivell hallmarks
When Ashworth was finally confirmed as United’s sporting director, the club’s business seemed to accelerate and step up a gear.
The Red Devils have hugely in terms of transfer acumen, with walking away from the Jarrad Branthwaite deal a particular highlight.
Christopher Vivell looks to be a monumental appointment for the Red Devils, with The Athletic claiming that the former Chelsea director would be in charge of discovering young and promising players who could eventually make the jump to the first team.
Since then, Obi-Martin and Kone have been signed by the Red Devils with both surely set to be in their academy setup before moving over to the first team at United.
While Jason Wilcox had a hand in the Obi-Martin deal, the Kone move looks to be pure Vivell.
His former club RB Salzburg established a pipeline of talent from Mali, and they were in the race for Kone, before United swooped in. This time, Vivell has helped United get there first.
United have to take advantage of academy signings
For years now, the Red Devils have been left behind in the transfer market, particularly when it comes to the scouting of promising academy players.
United missing out on Moises Caicedo is the obvious example with the Red Devils not paying the £5 million fee for the Ecuadorian midfielder. But there has also been Dayot Upamecano or even Erling Haaland. The list of missed opportunities is endless.
More importantly, the scouts, who are identifying these players with high potential, have to be listened to and under Vivell it seems that they are.
Ashworth’s collegiate approach allows different departments their own say and Vivell seemingly has the license to make these signings.
The additions of Kone and Obi-Martin may not work out for United but the Red Devils are taking these risks, that may not cost the club a lot, and it could bear fruit in the future.
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