Manu Koné was confident he would join Chelsea in the final hours of the transfer window. However, the deal unexpectedly collapsed.
According to Foot Mercato, Roma head coach Gian Piero Gasperini blocked the departure of the 25-year-old midfielder.
Chelsea boss Habi Alonso personally reached out to Koné. He also consulted with his former Real Madrid teammate Kylian Mbappe, who spoke highly of the Frenchman.
Initially, Chelsea and Roma were locked in discussions over a fee that saw the Italians raise their demands from €45 million to €70 million. On 1st September, the London club agreed to meet that asking price.
However, Roma found themselves unable to secure a replacement. Last-minute efforts to sign both Youssouf Fofana and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg ultimately fell through.
With no reinforcements in place, Gasperini vetoed the sale. As a result, Koné, whose contract runs until 2029, will remain in Italy for another season. A move to the Premier League is now expected to materialise later.
