Christian Falk has revealed that Liverpool are ‘watching’ Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder Kouadio ‘Manu’ Kone, and has claimed that the Bundesliga outfit will ‘lose’ the France under-21 international at the end of the season.
Other Premier League clubs such as Newcastle are also showing interest in the 21-year-old, while Ligue 1 side PSG are also rumored to be keeping an eye on the dynamic midfielder.
It’s no secret that Jurgen Klopp wants to strengthen his options in midfield and while Jude Bellingham is the club’s priority, Kone could prove a decent alternative.
“It’s also a question of money, but Gladbach knows that they will let Kouadio Koné go in the summer unless there is an opportunity to keep him,” the BILD journalist told CaughtOffside.
“They don’t want to sell any of their players. They are arguing with the doorman. [Yann Sommer] that he could join Bayern Munich. Kone has time.
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“Liverpool are looking at him, Newcastle were very interested in him, PSG also interested.
Bayern say no, that’s my specific information, they don’t want to buy him. Not this summer, maybe in the future, but then it’s gone. Bayern have enough midfielders not to be in the race.
“I think Kone will leave in the summer, but none of the links are concrete enough to say he will go to the Premier League or this club or this club. It’s a great market, but Gladbach will try to keep it until the summer, but then they’ll lose it.”
The Gladbach No. 17 has featured 15 times for Daniel Farke’s side this term and has contributed a goal and an assist, often deploying in a deep midfield role.
The Reds have one of the best holding midfielders in the form of Fabinho, but the Brazil international’s performances have been far from convincing so far this season.
With Liverpool constantly fond of other players who can operate in the middle of the park, such as Enzo Fernández, Bellingham and Moises Caicedo, Falk has called Kone a “plan B for many clubs” when discussing the price of the former Toulouse man. .
“There are no offers at the moment, so there are no specific prices, but we are talking about Bellingham, Fernández… I think it is not in this range but it is a plan B for many clubs,” added the reporter. “Dortmund may need a player in his position. So, 40 million euros perhaps? But there are no offers, so there is no market”.
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