Leon Goretzka isn’t the only midfield signing that AC Milan are pursuing, with a Sassuolo star having caught their eye.
La Gazzetta dello Sport write that Milan are looking to make more than one midfield change in the summer and they are pursuing Ismael Koné, who is having a good season with Sassuolo. Koné is on Milan’s wish list and draws parallels with Inter, who have been eyeing Roma’s Manu Koné.
Goretzka + Kone
Ismael Koné was born in 2002 in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, but at the age of seven he moved to Montreal in Canada, with his mother. That’s why he plays for the Canadian national team, despite having the option to represent the Ivorians.
Sassuolo signed him from Marseille in the summer, and Ismael quickly convinced Fabio Grosso to rely on him in a well-defined midfield alongside Matic and Thorstvedt. It worked, as demonstrated by Sassuolo’s 10th-place standing and Koné’s six goals in Serie A.
Last summer, Sassuolo signed Ismael Koné from France for €2.5m on loan with a €10.5m option to buy, so a total of €13m. A year later, with 30 league appearances and six goals, Koné is worth significantly more.
Sassuolo’s asking price is around €20-25m, a figure similar to what AC Milan have paid for other midfield investments in recent years. There’s plenty of competition from Juventus and abroad. In particular, keep an eye on France, where Koné is obviously very well-known.
It comes after the news from Gianluca Di Marzio this afternoon who gave an update on Leon Goretzka, confirming that Milan are the team closest to getting his signature.
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We need an attacking midfielder who can take the burden off Rabiot. Ricci and Jashari are more in the #6/#8 role.
I do think that Pulisic could also play in that role – it’s not that far from being a withdrawn striker to being a #10. He has a knack for beating defenders 1v1 and distributes well. But I know he’d prefer remaining as a forward/winger.
“He has a knack for beating defenders 1v1 ” What? You can say anything else about Pulisic but a knack for beating defenders 1v1? I don’t think he did that 20 times since he came to Milan. In total.
This one is rubbish
I seen Koné play since he was 17. He is a complete midfielder. Great mobility and spacial recognition, reacts very quickly with an eye for goal. He can shoot well. He also is capable of recovering balls and break attacks. He would be a steal at 25 million. I would take him over Musah, Fofana, Bondo or RLC without batting an eye. Very smart and skilled on the ball. He is a good passer too.