Liverpool exploring deal for £43m FIFA World Cup midfield dynamo

Liverpool have been linked with conducting a midfield shakeup this summer.

The Reds have been relying on the same cast of midfield characters for a couple of seasons now - but are getting diminishing returns from some in the ranks.

Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch for example have been a long way beneath their 2024/25 Premier League title-winning best.

Liverpool need new midfielders

New options to improve the midfield sector have been considered and don’t forget the Anfield club might even start the season short of numbers there as things stand.

It’s been reported that Trey Nyoni is closing in on a move to Swansea - while Curtis Jones, Stefan Bajcetic and Harvey Elliott could all be cleared out over the coming weeks.

If that happens then Andoni Iraola and sporting director Richard Hughes will have plenty of cash to spend on midfield replacements.

Liverpool interested in deal for £43m Kone

And one option could be to add Manu Kone - a long-term Liverpool target. Liverpool missed out on signing the Frenchman back when he played for Borussia Monchengladbach - instead he signed for Roma.

Having moved initially on loan in 2024 the 25-year-old then inked a permanent deal last summer for a bargain €18m fee.

Owing to a need for compliance with UEFA financial regulations however Kone could be sold this summer with a price tag of €50m being suggested.

Liverpool are in the race to sign Kone per Fichajes alongside Manchester United and Xabi Alonso’s Chelsea.

“Liverpool are also closely monitoring the player's progress and are exploring the possibility of signing him to bolster a midfield that needs rejuvenation and added dynamism,” the report reads.

With Youri Tielemans heading to Old Trafford last week perhaps United’s needs are suddenly not as profound. But Liverpool could do a lot worse than ask about a deal for one of the FIFA World Cup’s top midfield stars.

Manu Koné: Situation summary

Manu Koné has grown into a key all-phase midfielder for Roma, a 25-year-old France international who mixes size, mobility and intensity at the base or heart of midfield.

Standing around 1.85m, he covers ground, bites into duels and provides security in build-up without being a pure destroyer.

On the ball, Koné is a progressive carrier rather than a pure tempo-setter, using his press resistance and ability to ride challenges to break lines before finding advanced teammates.

Out of possession, he presses aggressively, wins duels and offers range in defensive coverage, making him well-suited to high-intensity, front-foot systems.

Signed from Borussia Mönchengladbach for a fee in the low-teens and tied down until 2029, Roma view him as a core asset entering his prime years.

Their stance is reflected in an asking price of around €50m, with no suggestion of a cut-price exit.

Koné is open to a move and, after turning down Atlético Madrid, is understood to favour the Premier League, with Arsenal, Manchester United and Newcastle all circling.

A switch to a possession-oriented English club needing a dynamic No. 6/8 – United’s interest in particular has escalated after other targets stalled – currently profiles as his likeliest next step if someone meets Roma’s valuation.