CONFIRMED: Liverpool want Bundesliga prodigy

Tom Weber

• Updated: 31 May 2023 12:31 BST
• 3 min read

German media is writing that Liverpool have their sights set on Monchengladbach's Manu Kone, confirming what we have been exclusively reporting since January.

The Reds are keen to reshape their midfield following an underwhelming season that saw them only qualify for the Europa League. With Naby Keita, James Milner, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and potentially even Fabio Carvalho departing, several fresh faces will be brought in this summer.

The first new cog in Liverpool's midfield appears to be Brighton's Alexis Mac Allister, whose negotiations with Jurgen Klopp and new sporting director Jorg Schmadtke are already close to being done, with a deal set to be struck in June when the player's release clause comes into force.

Moreover, Liverpool have been linked with Newcastle's Bruno Guimaraes and, as our Jacque Talbot exclusively revealed yesterday, they are set for talks with Nice midfielder Khephren Thuram, the son of French legend Lillian

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While Liverpool are not looking at Khephren's brother, Marcus, as a potential target, they do have one of his Borussia Monchengladbach teammates on their radar: Kouadio "Manu" Kone.

Long-standing interest

We have been exclusively reporting on the Reds' interest since January. In March, we revealed that Kone was set for a €40 million Premier League move in the summer with Liverpool among the favourites to land him.

Now, BILD report - backed up by transfer expert Fabrizio Romano - that the Scousers are in talks with the 22-year-old's entourage, who describe the interest as "significant" and "genuine." Gladbach are asking for €40-45m, according to the report, matching the fee we mentioned in March.

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Though still a bit raw, Kone has been one of the most exciting midfield talents in the Bundesliga since his switch from Toulouse. Indeed, he profiles similarly to Bruno Guimaraes, another player on Liverpool's radar, and could be a more attractive option given his age advantage and price, with his Brazilian counterpart potentially commanding as much as €100m.