Sekou Kone, the Manchester United loanee, experienced a challenging first start for FC Lausanne on Sunday, as they fell to a 2-1 defeat against FC Basel in the Swiss Super League. The 20-year-old midfielder played 45 minutes on the left flank, a position seemingly not aligned with his projected role as a long-term replacement for Casemiro, according to reports.
Kone joined Lausanne in January as part of the Ineos strategy to develop young talent across their network of clubs. Manchester United staff are closely monitoring his progress, despite a recent controversy surrounding his exclusion from Lausanne’s Europa Conference League squad. While he has shown glimpses of promise from the bench, his initial outing as a starter proved difficult.
According to FotMob data, Kone completed 78% of his passes (14 out of 18) and had 33 touches of the ball. However, he failed to complete any of his three attempted dribbles, winning only two of his nine duels and making just two defensive contributions. He received a match rating of 5.9, the second-lowest among Lausanne players.
The loan move to Lausanne was intended to provide Kone with regular playing time and an opportunity to adjust to senior football after a period of acclimation to Manchester United. The match against Basel presented a significant test, particularly given his deployment in an unfamiliar wide midfield role. The exclusion from the Europa Conference League squad has added unwanted scrutiny to his time at the club, raising questions about the coaching staff’s assessment of his readiness.
Despite the disappointing performance, sources within Manchester United remain optimistic about Kone’s potential. The club views him as a future asset and his development is being carefully tracked. Lausanne’s next match is against FC Zurich on Wednesday, offering Kone an immediate opportunity to rebound from his first start.