David Ornstein has confirmed Liverpool’s interest in a certain Serie A midfielder ahead of the next transfer window
Liverpool’s summer transfer window closed without a new midfielder arriving at Anfield, even though Curtis Jones left the club after 16 years.
Jones completed a permanent move to Inter Milan worth around £30 million, the only permanent departure Liverpool made all summer.
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Andoni Iraola chose not to bring in a direct replacement. Instead, academy midfielder Trey Nyoni has been pushed into contention after an impressive pre-season, a factor in the club’s decision to change its recruitment plans in that position.
The lack of midfield reinforcement has taken on fresh significance this week.
Alexis Mac Allister revealed that Liverpool have yet to offer him a new contract, saying the situation left him “very, very sad” ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League opener against Atletico Madrid.
Mac Allister’s current deal runs until 2028, but questions over his long-term future at the club have persisted since the summer.
Speaking on The Athletic’s podcast, David Ornstein addressed exactly the kind of scenario that could follow if Liverpool’s midfield picture shifts again, including one Serie A name that has stayed on the club’s radar throughout the transfer window.
Asked which Premier League club is most likely to be active in January, and whether any deals that collapsed over the summer could be revisited, Ornstein pointed to several unresolved transfer sagas.
Ornstein also referenced Monaco midfielder Lamine Camara, whose £47 million move to Chelsea collapsed in the final hours of the window after Monaco pulled out to prioritise the Balogun sale instead.
He said Liverpool retain an interest in Camara, alongside other clubs including Chelsea.
It was Ornstein’s comments on Roma’s Manu Kone, however, that carried the headline.
He said Kone came close to joining Chelsea before the club turned to Camara instead, and pointed to his rise with France, where he started regularly at the World Cup.
“I think there’s interest in Kone of Roma, and they’ll have other options as well.”
He added: “He came very close to joining Chelsea before they pivoted to Camara. And let’s see what position Roma are in at the time in terms of European football and financial compliance (come the winter window).
“He’s a player that is so highly rated. We saw him starting a lot for France at the World Cup, and he was looked at very heavily by Manchester United, Chelsea… I think Liverpool like him as well as one of their potential future options.”
Roma ultimately kept hold of Manu Kone on deadline day, with the club insisting the decision to retain him was never in doubt.
Ornstein said Manchester United and Chelsea have both looked closely at the midfielder, adding that Liverpool view him as one of their potential future options.
He noted that Roma’s position in Europe and their financial compliance situation come the winter window will factor into any renewed move in January.
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