Reports state that Manchester United will loan Sekou Kone and a new signing to the same club next season to “strengthen their relationship” with the side.
Multi-club models are becoming more and more common in modern-day football, with clubs like Manchester City and Chelsea using them as a way to sign young players, or academy players on loan.
Manchester United look set to join the trend and establish their own multi-group organisation, but perhaps not as extreme as the City Group, and instead focusing on just one club to partner with.
When Sir Jim Ratcliffe purchased a stake in United, many fans thought this would be with OGC Nice in the French league, but INEOS now appear to be selling their stake in the club to focus more on Rúben Amorim’s team.
INEOS also own Swiss club Lausanne, who allowed three United youngsters to train with them earlier this season, in the first move involving the two clubs.
The relationship appears to be growing stronger, as the Red Devils could loan a new signing and an academy talent to Laussane for next season.
Kone and Biyak set for loan move
Mail Sport have reported that Sekou Kone could leave United next season on loan to gain regular minutes in senior football, with Lausanne appearing as the front runners for his temporary signature.
Clubs in Belgium and France are also said to be interested in Kone’s services, but any move would represent the Malian’s first chance of senior football, after just missing out this season under Amorim, despite training with the first team and appearing on the bench.
Kone could be joined at Lausanne by Enzo Kana-Biyik, who looks set to join United from Le Havre, adding to the club’s young strike force alongside Gabriele Biancheri and Chido Obi.
Biyik would also be sent on loan to the Swiss club to play regular first-team football, after appearing on the bench twice this season, but failing to register an appearance.
A good season in Switzerland could see the duo rejoin United as players not only competing for spots in the matchday squad, but competing for minutes on the pitch with senior players.
Kone loan makes sense for all parties
Kone has had a great first season at United, despite being injured for nearly two months just after his first appearances.
The young midfielder has excited those who have watched him and many feel he should’ve been given a chance by Amorim, especially with the poor form in the Premier League and the injuries to Toby Collyer and Kobbie Mainoo.
While a loan to Lausanne would help the club in the long term, a loan to an English club in the lower leagues could be a better move for Kone, who is still adapting to life in Manchester.
Clubs in League One or the Championship could be a perfect move for Kone, as he learns about the physical battle in England, having already mastered some of the technical aspects of the game.
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