Transfer rumors against Ismaël Koné started again on Thursday. For many hours, the name of the CF Montreal midfielder was linked to Sheffield United, in the English second division. As the day progressed, the flames emanating from these negotiations were gradually reduced to embers.
Updated yesterday at 6:31 p.m.
Personality Fabrizio Romano revealed on Twitter around 1 p.m. that Sheffield, a club in the north of England, was interested in the services of the young Quebec player. And that a sum of approximately 5 million pounds, or 7.5 million Canadian dollars, would have been offered to CF Montreal to make its acquisition.
There was little news on this file thereafter. Around 5:30 p.m. Montreal time, journalist Danny Hall, who covers Sheffield United activities for the daily The Star, argued that Koné’s transfer had become “highly unlikely”. Among other things because its acquisition was conditional on the sale of the Norwegian Sander Berge from Sheffield to Club Brugge, Belgium. Transaction which would therefore not have taken place.
Note that at 6 p.m. – or 11 p.m. in England – the transfer market was indeed closed. This does not prevent agreements from being announced later, provided that they have been submitted before the deadline.
Nothing had been announced, either by the CFM or by Sheffield, at this time. Which would confirm that Ismaël Koné would indeed stay in Montreal to end the season there.
That said, it would only be a postponement. Sheffield is not the first club to eye the young Quebec midfielder. Norwich, also in the Championship, offered him a contract when the transfer market opened. He had even met him. Koné said he was “grateful” for this offer last month.
In the process, Olivier Renard had mentioned that the club had received “several offers” for the Quebec environment, without confirming the interest of Norwich.
CF Montreal will not be able to say no to such proposals for long either. If the figures suggested for this transfer do indeed reflect reality, the profit margin for the club would have been astronomical.
Koné was acquired from CS Saint-Laurent last year. He made his professional debut this season, marking his arrival in style with a sublime goal against Santos Laguna at the Olympic Stadium in the Champions League.
Since then, the 20-year-old Quebecer has participated in 21 of the 27 games of the Montreal team, treading the field 15 times. His goal against the Chicago Fire last week was further proof of his great talent.
But the fact remains that the young man is in full development this season. He had good moments, yes, but also failures. His profile is of interest to major European clubs, of course. But maybe it’s better for him and for the CFM to keep him at least for a full season here and rack up some minutes. Because in the great pool of international football, God knows there is no shortage of talent, and therefore competition.