ENGLISH DUO MISS OUT ON MIDFIELDER

Two Premier League teams namely Leeds United and Manchester United have been beaten to the signing of teenage midfielder Kouadio Kone who plays his club football for Toulouse in the second tier of French football (Ligue II).

The English duo of Manchester United and Leeds United have missed out on the 19-year-old player to German Bundesliga outfit Borussia Moenchengladbach. Transfer news guru Fabrizio Romano disclosed that KouadioKone is closing in on a move to Gladbach. Borussia Moenchengladbach offered €9m for the teenage midfielder and it was accepted by his French club, while agreement on personal terms has also been reached paving the way for the player to move to Germany. Kone will sign a five-and-a-half year deal with Gladbach until the summer of 2026.

Apart from Leeds United and Manchester United, Italian Serie A leaders AC Milan were also keen on signing the box-to-box midfielder but they were only able to offer €5m plus add-ons for him. KouadioKone will link up with fellow French players Marcus Thuram and Alassane Plea at Gladbach. Plea and Thuram previously played in France before signing for Borussia Moenchengladbach.
The interest of Premier League giants Manchester United in Kone was reported by Foot Mercato but the Red Devils didn't make an official bid for the teenager. Premier League newcomers Leeds wanted to sign Kone until they were quoted the transfer fee of €15m from the initial asking price of €10m. The player's valuation was increased by Toulouse after AC Milan entered the race to sign him. In the end, Borussia Moenchengladbach paid a lesser amount to secure his signature.
KouadioKone has been a regular in the Toulouse XI in Ligue II this season, making 17 appearances in the process. The young midfielder has scored once for Toulouse who are in second place on the Ligue II standings.