The aura surrounding Ismaël Koné is becoming more and more brilliant. His name circulates here, there, there. His talent, although precocious, attracts attention. And, above all, lust. Like a polishing diamond. Who knows what it may become?
Posted at 1:59 p.m.
In August, the English second division club Norwich wanted to get their hands on the young nugget of CF Montreal. Thursday was Sheffield United, also from the Championship.
Blades coach Paul Heckingbottom spoke with local media on Friday. And it was specifically about the Quebec player.
” [Le transfert] was doable, he said. He has the profile we are looking for. »
According to rumors the day before, Koné’s transfer would have been conditional on the sale of Norwegian Sander Berge by Sheffield to Club Brugge, Belgium. But none of those players moved before the 11 p.m. deadline for the transfer market in England passed.
Heckingbottom nevertheless brought a nuance about these negotiations.
“The people we considered were not to replace Sander. We do not replace players who can play in the Champions League by spending only a few million dollars. »
“It was more a question of identifying players with potential. Players that we see reaching the next level. Who can improve. Ishmael was one of them. »
Will he remain on Sheffield’s list for the next transfer window in January?
“Yes, he will most likely be there. »
“Happy” to stay
Ismaël Koné was indeed at CF Montreal training on Friday.
“He feels good, the little one,” said his head coach Wilfried Nancy a few minutes before hitting the Center Nutrilait field.
“He knows football now. He has only been with the professional group for a year and a half, and he has matured enormously. He is lucky to have players who have had great careers abroad. Like Victor [Wanyama]or even Kei [Kamara] who had a career in MLS. He talks a lot with them. »
Nancy assures that the Quebecer “is happy” to stay here.
“He has individual goals, like everyone else. We’re going to help him achieve his goals, and then we’ll see. »
Besides, Nancy doesn’t see recent transfer rumors as distractions for the group. But he does not hide that the closing of the transfer window in Europe is relieving for a coach, whether he works here or there.
“All over the world it’s like that,” he said. I was reading articles about what is happening in Europe. All the coaches can’t wait for it to be over. […] I put myself in the coach’s shoes, it’s not easy. »
“The players are used to it. We are too. They know what is going on. Me, what interests me is that Ishmael feels good. »