Fabrizio Romano is usually fairly reliable on transfers I'd say? Central midfielder from the little I know, unfortunately I'm the wrong side of Canada for a scouting trip. Transfermarkt tells me 1 goal, 3 assists in 16 MLS games this season. Made his Canadian national team debut in the dead-rubber games after they secured World Cup qualification. So perhaps on the fringes of the national team and could do with some good performances to secure a trip to Qatar. Kei Kamara is currently at Montreal, and has always been super positive about his time at Norwich, so hopefully there's a helpful conversation there.
Follow-up tweet says concentration can be an issue, but a top talent physically and technically. For those with an Athletic subscription, or a 12 ft ladder: https://theathletic.com/3320437/2022/05/18/ismael-kone-cf-montreal-mls/
Kone turned 20 in June. He's the same height as Yaya Toure (6'8") and is also from the Ivory Coast. By the sound of it he's a similar player ("pace, power, athleticism, tackling, passing, vision, technique, work rate") which sounds excellent. I look forward to finding out more. Here's his Wiki profile: There are also several compilation videos on YouTube, including one titled 'Welcome to Norwich'! The Pinkun has now picked up the rumour as well: https://www.pinkun.com/sport/norwich-city/canaries-ncfc-ismael-kone-report-transfer-window-9168184
Useful description of strengths and style of play at 7:15 Sounds like he'll fit in nicely alongside a Hayden type.
That's probably a way off given Hayden's injury, Sara's lack of pre-season and Kone being only a possibility, but it does suggest the midfield shape S&S are looking for, with number 6 type DM playing slightly deeper than McLean and/or Sara and/or Kone, if he comes, in a 4-3-3. Where we're trying to break down more defensive teams though, the midfield 3 could become a 2 with Cantwell or Dowell providing creativity behind Pukki in a 4-2-3-1 with Sara or Kone being given a free role to create overloads during attacks. It's interesting that both Sara and Kone are described as front foot players who want to pass or carry the ball forward rather than passing back to keep possession. That, I suspect, will be the main difference from Farkeball which, in its own way could be just as attractive in execution.
Running with the ball, also known as dribbling. A forgotten art that players like Sir Stanley Mathews were brilliant at.
