Liverpool keen to sign £35m midfielder who’s missed almost the whole season with injury
Liverpool remain interested in signing Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder Manu Kone.
Kone was heavily linked with a move to Anfield over the summer. But with a badly-timed injury seemingly to put a pin in any Liverpool approach, the 22-year-old stayed put. In the meantime, the Reds signed four brand new midfielders.
Nevertheless, recent reports linking them with Fluminense’s Andre Trindade would suggest that Jurgen Klopp is still in the market for one more.
And according to German journalist Christian Falk on Twitter, Kone remains on the shortlist for Liverpool. But they face competition.
“True, Bayern [Munich] is interested in Manu Kone (22),” writes the reporter. “Also Liverpool is still watching the midfield player of Borussia Monchengladbach.”
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Liverpool still keeping tabs on Kone
Just like with his countryman, Khephren Thuram, the transfer saga involving Kone this summer was quite an odd one.
At one point, the two Frenchman looked virtually certain to end up at Liverpool. But with other players ultimately prioritised, Kone both headed back to their clubs.
Since then, neither has been really able to get going. Thuram has had the better of it, starting seven of eight Ligue 1 games so far. But as well as having failed to score or assist in that time, the 22-year-old has also been subbed off in four of those games, including at half-time of last weekend’s win over Metz.
Manu Kone
Photo by Christian Verheyen/Borussia Moenchengladbach via Getty Images
For Kone, his issues have been slightly different. The injury that looked to end any summer interest in him has restricted the £35m-valued midfielder to just two Bundesliga appearances this campaign.
Kone has started to come back recently, though. He started his first game of the season – vs Leipzig on September 23rd – and has since made one further substitute appearance.
After a full summer on the treatment table – and with no pre-season – the France U21 star may take some time to get back up to speed.
But when he does, it sounds like Liverpool will be watching.
