United must meet July 31 deadline for Roma's Manu Kone

Manchester United's pursuit of Roma midfielder Manu Kone has reached a critical juncture, with the Italian club facing a pressing deadline to sell the player by July 31 to comply with a financial settlement agreement with UEFA. While United have reportedly agreed to personal terms with the 25-year-old French international, a transfer fee has not been settled, and negotiations have stalled.

Roma are understood to need to raise significant funds, estimated between 42 million and 51 million pounds, to avoid potential UEFA sanctions. The club had an original deadline at the end of June, which was extended, but they now face a firm cutoff of July 31. Despite this urgency, United have not yet submitted a formal bid and are described as moving slowly in talks, much to Roma's frustration.

A significant obstacle is the valuation. Roma's asking price is reported to be around 51 million pounds, a figure that does not have unanimous support within Manchester United's recruitment team. In an effort to lower the cost, discussions have reportedly included the possibility of a swap deal involving United forward Marcus Rashford. However, this proposal faces major hurdles, primarily due to...