Manchester United has taken the first step in its bid to win the race to sign Frenchman Manu Koné, Roma's midfielder, noting that he is also on Arsenal's radar.

According to the English newspaper Mirror, Manchester United has made the first move and started official talks with Roma regarding French midfielder Manu Koné, who is valued at €60 million (£51 million).

Manchester United faces competition from Arsenal and Liverpool to secure the French star, who delivered an outstanding performance with the French national team in the 2026 World Cup.

The midfielder proved to be a shining star in the World Cup, prompting many clubs to prepare to sign him during the summer transfer window.

Despite Roma's qualification for the Champions League, they still need to sell some of their players, and Koné was the prime candidate to fetch a large sum, as his impressive displays in the World Cup contributed to his price increase.

Some in Italy also believed that Manchester United's withdrawal from the deal for Atalanta's Ederson was due to them identifying a new target.

Manchester United has shown great interest in strengthening their midfield this summer, and despite the arrivals of Youri Tielemans and André Santos, they are still looking to bring other distinguished players to the middle of the park. Those two players cost them £85 million, but they appear ready to spend more.