Xabi Alonso reportedly turned to Kylian Mbappé for his opinion on France teammate Manu Koné before Chelsea stepped up their pursuit of the Roma midfielder.

Chelsea’s interest in Manu Koné reportedly received an important boost after Xabi Alonso sought the opinion of Kylian Mbappé regarding the midfielder.

According to reports, Alonso contacted Mbappé during the summer to get a closer insight into Koné, who plays alongside the Real Madrid forward for the France national team.

Mbappé is understood to have given his international teammate a glowing recommendation, strengthening Alonso’s belief that Koné would be an ideal addition to Chelsea’s midfield.

Alonso identified Koné as an ideal target

Alonso had already identified Koné as a midfielder who could fit his plans, but Mbappé’s positive assessment reportedly reinforced the Chelsea manager’s conviction.

The 25-year-old has established himself as an important player for both Roma and France, offering a combination of physicality, defensive intensity and the ability to carry the ball through midfield.

Those qualities made him particularly attractive to Alonso as Chelsea looked to strengthen their options in the middle of the pitch.

The former Bayer Leverkusen boss was reportedly involved directly in the recruitment process, including discussions aimed at convincing Koné about his potential role at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea pushed for the transfer

Chelsea subsequently moved forward with their interest and were reportedly prepared to pay a significant fee to bring Koné to London.

The midfielder was reportedly open to the move, with negotiations progressing between Chelsea and Roma.

However, despite the apparent progress, the transfer eventually fell through.

The main obstacle was Roma’s inability to secure a suitable replacement for Koné before the transfer deadline. The Italian club explored alternative midfield options but ultimately decided against allowing their French international to leave without first bringing in a replacement.

Mbappé’s recommendation adds another layer

Mbappé’s involvement is particularly interesting given his relationship with Koné through the France national team.

Rather than simply relying on conventional scouting reports, Alonso reportedly used his personal connection with Mbappé to gain further insight into the midfielder’s qualities and character.

The recommendation appears to have reinforced what Alonso had already seen in Koné and helped convince Chelsea to push ahead with the deal.

For Chelsea, the failed move could prove frustrating, particularly if Koné continues to develop into an important player for both Roma and France.

Chelsea could return for Koné

Although the summer transfer collapsed, Chelsea’s reported admiration for Koné is unlikely to disappear overnight.

At 25, the midfielder remains in an attractive age bracket, while his performances at club and international level continue to raise his profile.

With Alonso seemingly convinced that Koné possesses the qualities required for his midfield, Chelsea could potentially revisit their interest in the future.

For now, however, Koné remains a Roma player — despite reportedly coming close to becoming one of Alonso’s first major midfield additions at Chelsea.

What do you think? Should Chelsea make another attempt to sign Manu Koné?