Liverpool have ideal Fabinho replacement - and it's not Lavia

Stuart Telford

• 16 Jul 2023 11:10 BST
• 3 min read

Fabinho looks set to join Al-Ittihad in a £40 million transfer, but worry not Liverpool fans, new sporting director Jorg Schmadtke has the perfect replacement up his sleeve.

Liverpool could see two midfielders leave the club for Saudi Arabia next week, with Jordan Henderson reportedly also ready to follow Steven Gerrard to Al-Ettifaq if the clubs can agree on a fee.

While Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai have been recruited from Brighton and RB Leipzig respectively, they are more attacking players than Fabinho and the Brazilian's profile in particular will need replaced.

READ: Liverpool star in SHOCK £40m deal to join Henderson in Saudi Pro League

Romeo Lavia is understood to be their top target in the position, but there is competition for the Southampton youngster's signature from Arsenal and former club Manchester City - something that will drive his price up if not put him out of reach altogether.

Enter Manu Kone, the Borussia Monchengladbach youngster whom Schmadtke knows well from his time as a sporting director in Germany.

Kone to cost €40m

"Liverpool are informed of the price tag for Manu Kone as talks took place this week," reports transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano. "The French midfielder could be available for €35/€40m. Gladbach are prepared to let him leave for that fee."

READ: EXCLUSIVE: Kouadio Kone set for €40m Premier League move

That asking price would see Liverpool spend the bulk of Fabinho's transfer fee on his replacement, but it looks to be worth the investment.

Kone is seven-and-a-half years Fabinho's junior, but has also outperformed him in some key metrics over the last season.

The blocking statistics were alarmingly similar - Kone averaged 1.52 per 90 minutes last term; Fabinho 1.25 - so both are happy to do the dirty work.

But on winning the ball back, Kone does far more, with his two progressive carries and successful take-ons leaving Fabinho, and the midfielders he came up against, quite literally standing.

Kone was injured playing for France at the European Under-21 Championship in Romania and Georgia last month, but he should be fit by August and he could well be worth the gamble.