Manu Kone (France U21) (Image: Maurizio Borsari/AFLO/Alamy Live News)
Manu Kone (France U21) (Image: Maurizio Borsari/AFLO/Alamy Live News)
Three years after Liverpool were first linked with Manu Kone, the French midfielder is again being mentioned as a potential transfer target for the Reds.
Kone was heavily linked to Liverpool as a replacement for Fabinho in 2023, when he was a Borussia Monchengladbach player.
However, the move didn’t materialise and Liverpool haven’t ever really filled the space left by the Brazilian holding midfielder – though Ryan Gravenberch didn’t do a bad job as Liverpool won the 2025 Premier League.
With the Reds potentially facing more turnover in the midfield, Kone has again been linked this summer, but Man United are reportedly the favourites to sign the 25-year-old, now a Roma player.
2PPFEFC Monchengladbach, Deutschland. 23rd Apr, 2023. firo : 04/23/2023, football, soccer, 1st league, 1st Bundesliga, season 2022/2023, Gladbach, Borussia Monchengladbach - Union Berlin 0: 1 Manu KONE, Gladbach, single action Credit: dpa/Alamy Live News
2PPFEFC Monchengladbach, Deutschland. 23rd Apr, 2023. firo : 04/23/2023, football, soccer, 1st league, 1st Bundesliga, season 2022/2023, Gladbach, Borussia Monchengladbach - Union Berlin 0: 1 Manu KONE, Gladbach, single action Credit: dpa/Alamy Live News
The France international, who started four times at the World Cup, has been the subject of interest from several clubs, according to outlets in Italy.
Corriere dello Sport‘s Jacopo Aliprandi wrote on Monday that Atletico Madrid had made “determined attempts in recent weeks” to sign Kone, “engaging in discussions with both the player and Roma.”
However, their offer of £34 million wasn’t enough because Roma have set a “precise price” of €60m (£51m).
For context, the central midfielder cost the Italian club up to £21m to sign from the Bundesliga in 2024.
2NA8MGA Berlin, Germany. 12th Feb, 2023. Soccer: Bundesliga, Hertha BSC - Borussia Monchengladbach, Matchday 20, Olympiastadion, Gladbach's Manu Kone. Credit: Soeren Stache/dpa - IMPORTANT NOTE: In accordance with the requirements of the DFL Deutsche FuBball Liga and the DFB Deutscher FuBball-Bund, it is prohibited to use or have used photographs taken in the stadium and/or of the match in the form of sequence pictures and/or video-like photo series./dpa/Alamy Live News
2NA8MGA Berlin, Germany. 12th Feb, 2023. Soccer: Bundesliga, Hertha BSC - Borussia Monchengladbach, Matchday 20, Olympiastadion, Gladbach's Manu Kone. Credit: Soeren Stache/dpa - IMPORTANT NOTE: In accordance with the requirements of the DFL Deutsche FuBball Liga and the DFB Deutscher FuBball-Bund, it is prohibited to use or have used photographs taken in the stadium and/or of the match in the form of sequence pictures and/or video-like photo series./dpa/Alamy Live News
The reporter added: “A clear message, delivered to agents and intermediaries, has also reached the Premier League, where Manchester United and Liverpool are closely monitoring the situation.”
La Gazzetta dello Sport‘s Francesco Balzani has since followed up on the story, explaining on Thursday that “in the last few hours, pressure from the Premier League has intensified, so much so that the balance is now tipped toward a sale.”
La Gazzetta also threw Chelsea‘s name into the ring, sharing that Kone has a “desire to compete in the Premier League given that his PSG dream hasn’t materialised” and to “keep an eye on Chelsea in the final hours.”
Balzani did say, however, that “the team most interested is Manchester United, who have included Kone on a shortlist along with [Eduardo] Camavinga and [Alex] Scott.”
Though Roma only signed him two years ago, they may have their hand forced in order to comply with UEFA’s Financial Fair Play Regulations.
Roma broke UEFA’s squad cost ratio in the financial year ending in 2025 and were fined £3.4m as a result, so they will be eager to avoid further punishment.
While it currently looks like Kone is destined for a move elsewhere, he could yet be a good option for Liverpool.
The future of Curtis Jones is still uncertain and Stefan Bajcetic could also move on. Alexis Mac Allister has had a good World Cup, but his club form last season offered no encouragement for the future.
Liverpool have been considering midfield targets this summer; Adam Wharton, Monaco’s Lamine Camara and Mamadou Sangare of Lens have all been looked at, according to journalist David Lynch.
After a strong showing at the World Cup, Kone will be in demand but the Reds won’t want to pay over the odds for the Frenchman.
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