Sekou Kone scout report highlights key qualities, Man Utd have signed Ten Hag a gem

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Manchester United have added an unknown 18-year-old to the ranks, and scouting reports show that it is excellent profiling.

Signing a player like Sekou Kone ahead of Europe’s elite is a move we are used to admiring rather than celebrating. The Glazers rarely sanctioned deals like this for Manchester United, often opting for older players over exciting young names.

The deal is one we would have expected RB Leipzig or RB Salzburg to complete, which proves that Ineos’ appointment of Christopher Vivell is already paying off.

Kone is the latest addition to the wonderkid dynasty which Ineos is building, and it also completes the spine of the club.

Here is what his U17 World Cup performances can tell us about his qualities and strengths.

On paper, Sekou Kone is ideal to partner with Kobbie Mainoo

At 18 years old, Kone is already regarded as an elite talent who is tipped for the top of the game. He will be a U21 player initially, but if he impresses through training with the first team, a debut this season cannot be ruled out.

His most notable performances came in the U17 World Cup in November 2023, and now we can see his scout reports from that game.

Kone’s performance against Spain on November 13th led to the following report:

“Average height, long legs, slight frame, plenty of room to fill out. Lots of recoveries early on, good reading of the game to be on the move before a breakdown, [and] quick passes after. Decisive take on (28:25) into space for a shot, saw the picture. Still going strong in added time.”

Adding to this against France on November 28th he also caught the eye:

“Deepest in MID2. Connecting passes from the base of [midfield]. Gets on the turn when receiving. Looks to spread play across the pitch. Solid touch and technique. Really switched on when covering space in MID – plugs gaps [and] gets into good areas to sweep up loose balls.”

From this, we have identified some of his standout strengths.

• Awareness on and off the ball
• Decision making
• Endurance
• Passing long and short
• Building out from the back
• Press resistant
• Touch and technique
• Defensive interceptions and tackles

This list is pretty substantial and shows he possesses plenty of the qualities needed in a top-class defensive midfielder in 2024.

• READ MORE: Manchester United confirmed signings, transfers in, out, loan exits, releases for 2024/25

This deal defines the new Manchester United

For years, Manchester United were run by businessmen who had no clue when it came to football, this is why we saw deals sanctioned which to this day do not make sense.

But already Ineos have shifted the culture at the club and turned United into the most exciting club in Europe, boasting the best academy in England if not the whole of Europe.

Signing a player like Sekou, with the aim of him being a first-team football is ambitious, but is also a move that many United fans have been wishing the club to do.

We are all aware of the long list of names United have snubbed the chance to sign as a teenager only to rue this shortly after such as Erling Haaland who Ole Gunnar Solskjaer begged United to sign.

This deal therefore represents a new United that trusts the scouts and will sign players based on their ability and potential rather than marketability.