Koné to Sheffield United off? - Montréal talent increased market value by 350%

This article first appeared at 2 p.m. Eastern Time and has been updated with new information

After a deal with Norwich City broke down earlier this window, Canadian men's national team star Ismaël Koné appears to have seen a second deal to a Championship side fallen apart. On Thursday, Fabrizio Romano reported that Sheffield United have reached an agreement with CF Montréal to sign the 20-year-old midfielder. The Major League Soccer side would have received €5.7 million—just shy of the €6 million the club received from AZ Alkmaar for Djordje Mihailovic earlier this summer. 

Koné was expected to replace midfielder Sander Berge. Club Brugge were in talks to sign the Norwegian midfielder, but the Champions League side could not meet Sheffield United's valuation of the player. Sheffield United wanted to recuperate a large portion of the €23 million they paid for the player to Genk in January 2020. 

With the Berge deal falling apart, the Koné deal also appears to be off. But a deal was certainly close. Earlier on Thursday, there were unconfirmed reports that Koné has already received a work permit to play in the United Kingdom. MLSSoccer.com writer Tom Bogert, in the meantime, reported that Koné was absent from Montréal's training today indicating that the midfielder was on standby for a possible deal. 

Koné is a rising star for CF Montréal - 7th most valuable Canadian 

The transfer to Europe would have been consequential for Koné. The 20-year-old has scored two goals and three assists in 23 games across all competitions for Montréal this season. The midfielder was signed from amateur side Saint-Laurent last summer and has since increased his market value to €4.5 million— that includes a 350% increase in the latest MLS market value update.