Liverpool step up bid for £45m midfield gem to complete their side: report

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp acknowledges the fans following the Premier League match between Brighton & Hove Albion and Liverpool FC at American Express Community Stadium on October 08, 2023 in Brighton, England.
(Image credit: Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)

Liverpool are about to step up efforts to sign a £45 million midfield superstar in a move that could complete the Reds' lineup.

Jurgen Klopp signed four midfielders in the summer but has surprised some with his choices to start in the centre of the park so far. Dominik Szoboszlai has been a regular fixture, with Ryan Gravenberch playing a few more minutes of late.

But Alexis Mac Allister has been favoured deepest in the midfield three ahead of a more natural No.6 in Wataru Endo, as Klopp plays the Argentine World Cup winner in an unfamiliar deeper role. 

Alexis Mac Allister in action for Liverpool against Tottenham in the Premier League in September 2023.

Alexis Mac Allister has played as a defensive midfielder for Liverpool thus far (Image credit: Getty Images)

That could be about to change, however, with Liverpool poised to go after Manu Kone.

The Borussia Monchengladbach star has been linked with a Merseyside move for a while now, with Christian Falk of BILD now claiming that Liverpool are "still watching" the star. 

VIDEO: What REALLY Happened With VAR In Liverpool vs Tottenham

While Kone could be best suited as the deepest midfielder in Klopp's system, however, it's intriguingly far from a foregone conclusion that he will play there – similarly to Mac Allister. 

Kone is adept at playing as a No.8, too, and may function as more of a box-to-box player for Liverpool. Andre Trindade, a more natural No.6, has been linked, while Gravenberch has been touted by some as a potential option to convert into a more defensive-minded midfielder, due to his build and positional sense. 

Liverpool also have Stefan Bajcetic, who can play as the most defensive-minded midfield. 

Kone is valued at €40m by Transfermarkt

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Mark White
Content Editor

Mark White has been at on FourFourTwo since joining in January 2020, first as a staff writer before becoming content editor in 2023. An encyclopedia of football shirts and boots knowledge – both past and present – Mark has also represented FFT at both FA Cup and League Cup finals (though didn't receive a winners' medal on either occasion) and has written pieces for the mag ranging on subjects from Bobby Robson's season at Barcelona to Robinho's career. He has written cover features for the mag on Mikel Arteta and Martin Odegaard, and is assisted by his cat, Rosie, who has interned for the brand since lockdown.