---
title: "Chelsea ‘agree personal terms’ with “aggressive” 25-year-old midfielder ahead of £52 million deadline day transfer"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/chelsea-manu-kone-personal-terms-52m-transfer-roma/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Barnaby Lane"
section: "Chelsea Transfer Rumours"
published: "2026-09-01T11:18:09Z"
modified: "2026-09-01T11:18:15Z"
---

# Chelsea ‘agree personal terms’ with “aggressive” 25-year-old midfielder ahead of £52 million deadline day transfer

Chelsea are moving quickly to prepare for a potentially significant change in midfield before the transfer window closes.

With Enzo Fernández edging towards the exit door, Xabi Alonso’s side appear to have settled on another France international as a possible replacement, with negotiations now gathering pace.

## **Chelsea Agree Terms with Koné**

Chelsea have agreed personal terms with Roma midfielder Manu Koné as they look to complete a late move for the 25-year-old, [according to FootballTransfers](https://www.footballtransfers.com/en/transfer-news/uk-premier-league/2026/09/exclusive-chelsea-transfer-news-manu-kone-roma-personal-terms-agreed-deadline-day-steve-kay).

The Blues are now focused on reaching an agreement with Roma, with the overall transfer understood to be [worth around £52 million](https://chelseanews.com/blog/chelsea-transfer-news-manu-kone-4/).

Koné has emerged as one of Alonso’s leading targets as Chelsea prepare for the possibility of Fernández joining Manchester City. The London club have [also explored a deal for Monaco’s Lamine Camara](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/chelsea-lamine-camara-39m-bid-monaco-enzo-fernandez/), although negotiations over that move have proved more complicated.

The Frenchman has established himself as an important figure in Roma’s midfield since his arrival and made 37 appearances across all competitions last season, scoring twice.

His qualities have been strongly endorsed by former France captain Patrick Vieira, [who was speaking as an ITV Football pundit during the World Cup](https://x.com/itvfootball/status/2070577872264110499).

“He is for me today the best midfielder in France. I’d put him ahead of Tchaouameni and Rabiot, because he has this mobility, he is aggressive, he is a ball-winner, and he has the technical ability to be part of the build-up, has the facility with the ball to break lines and move forward.”

That combination of physicality, mobility and ability in possession is understood to be part of the appeal for Chelsea, particularly with Alonso potentially losing Fernández from his midfield options.

However, completing the deal will still require the Blues to convince Roma to part with one of their key players. Chelsea have received encouragement that an agreement can be reached, but the Italian club are reluctant to sell and are expected to demand a significant fee.

With deadline day now underway, Chelsea’s pursuit of Koné could become one of the defining moves of their final hours in the transfer market.