Chelsea open talks to sign £51m World Cup star ahead of Man Utd

Chelsea could rival Manchester United for a deal (Picture: Getty)

Chelsea

have held ‘initial talks’ to sign France

World Cup

star Manu Kone ahead of

Manchester United

, according to reports in Italy.

Kone, 25, was being linked with some of the biggest clubs in Europe even before he featured heavily for semi-finalists France in the World Cup.

The Roma midfielder played in five of France’s seven World Cup games, including their

semi-final defeat to Spain on Tuesday night

.

Premier League

champions

Arsenal

were

heavily linked with Kone earlier in the summer

but Manchester United then emerged as his most likely destination.

United have made midfield reinforcements their priority this summer after

Casemiro

’s emotional departure and

Manuel Ugarte

’s horror injury.

Michael Carrick

has already welcomed Andrey Santos from Chelsea and Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa, but wants a third midfielder to join his squad at Old Trafford.

It was

reported earlier this week that Manchester United had opened talks with Kone’s representatives

as they are keen to made the Frenchman their third midfield signing of the summer.

France World Cup star Manu Kone (Picture: Getty)

But United face a fair amount of competition in the battle to sign Kone, with Chelsea entering the race as they look for signings for new boss Xabi Alonso.

Chelsea have been in talks with Roma about a deal for ex-United winger Alejandro Garnacho, who is

set to be sold after a disappointing first season in west London

During those negotiations Chelsea have expressed interest in Kone, according to Italian outlet

Corriere della Sera

, with ‘initial talks’ already taken place over the transfer.

Enzo Fernandez is keen to leave Stamford Bridge (Picture: Getty)

Chelsea are monitoring the market for midfield signings as Enzo Fernandez

continues to push for a move away from Stamford Bridge

They are also light in midfield following Brazil international Santos’

£47m move to Manchester United

Roma want around 60m euros (£51m) for Kone, who was pictured in tears following France’s

somewhat surprising World Cup exit at the hands of Spain

Alonso held his first Chelsea press conference earlier this week after the former Liverpool and Real Madrid midfielder signed a four-year contract to take over at Stamford Bridge.

‘I am looking forward to this challenge, a big challenge, and Chelsea is one of the biggest clubs and I am looking forward to having success here,’ Alonso said.

Alonso takes over a Chelsea side that finished just 10th in the Premier League last season.

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