Liverpool have been ‘informed’ of how much it would cost to prise the young French midfielder, Manu Kone, away from his current club.
It was reported in Germany this week that Liverpool have contacted Borussia Monchengladbach over Kone’s availability, and now a price tag for the 22-year-old appears to have been confirmed.
With SPORT BILD‘s initial report claiming that Gladbach are likely to start negotiations at £35 million, another journalist has backed the story up.
Fabrizio Romano said that “talks took place this week,” and that he “could be available” for a fee in the region of £30 million to £35 million.
He added: “Gladbach are prepared to let him leave for that fee. [The] Reds are] working to complete [the Alexis] Mac Allister deal, then Kone’s also in the list.”
Liverpool are informed of price tag for Manu Koné as talks took place this week. French midfielder could be available for €35/40m, 'Gladbach are prepared to let him leave for that fee. ???? #LFC
Reds working to complete Mac Allister deal, then Koné's also in the list. pic.twitter.com/AOBYP8yz32
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 1, 2023
Liverpool’s interested is described by SPORT BILD as “big,” and though Kone’s contract runs to 2025 with an option to extend for a further 12 months, Gladbach “need quick income” and it is “already clear that he will leave.”
With the Reds’ new sporting director, Jorg Schmadtke, now officially in place, we can expect to see transfer negotiations accelerate.
The Bundesliga is Schmadtke’s area of expertise, but Liverpool’s reported enquiries for Kone happened before he had even been appointed, signalling the Reds are ready to move on from previous targets such as Mason Mount.
Kone can play deeper than Mount, offering perhaps more versatility as a box-to-box player.
He is also a part of the France U21 setup and is rated highly in Germany.
His compatriot, Khephren Thuram, has also been linked with a move to Merseyside.
GOAL’s Neil Jones has said Liverpool are “definitely interested” in him, while French newspaper L’Equipe report that the Reds have been in contact with his club, OGC Nice, “for a few weeks.”
Both Kone and Thuram would be good options for Liverpool moving forward, but the former may come as the cheaper of the two.
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