Manu Kone, a midfield player for Borussia Monchengladbach, was heavily linked to Liverpool last summer.
The French No. 6 was reportedly worth roughly €40 million to the Bundesliga team back then, but the Reds ultimately pursued other goals.
With Kone remaining at Gladbach, fellow Bundesliga players Dominik Szoboszlai, Ryan Gravenberch, Wataru Endo, and Alexis Mac Allister entered to bolster Jurgen Klopp’s midfield.
The midfielder’s hopes of a glamorous transfer seemed to be dashed by an injury sustained during the UEFA European Under-21 Championship last summer, with Bayern Munich and Juventus reportedly showing interest in him as well.
Kone then earned his way back into the team throughout the season after Gladbach and Kone invoked a contract clause extending his terms to 2026.
TO ACCEPT €18 MILLION FOR MANU KONE, GLADBACH
Local media is now claiming, nevertheless, that Kone will be SOLD this summer—that is, if the appropriate offer comes in and the price is FAR less than what his previous valuation was.
Gladbach is reportedly open to accepting as little as €18 million for the French Olympian as they work to rebuild their midfield, according to Rheinische Post.
Following a 14th-place Bundesliga finish, Kone has been mentioned as one of the midfield players who could be benched with World Cup champion Christoph Kramer and Florian Neuhaus.
Kone may be squeezed out as Gladbach looks to bolster their midfield for the upcoming season by adding both Philipp Sander and Kevin Stoger.
A STAR AT THE OLYMPIC GAMES
His career might be rekindled by a move, and many will be closely following his Olympic exploits for Thierry Henry’s team.
He will be playing at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris alongside a few other players that Liverpool is reportedly interested in signing, including midfielder Khephren Thuram, Michael Olise, and Bradley Locko, who might replace Andy Robertson at left back.
Kone made 22 appearances in the German top division last season, starting just 18 of those games. He scored his lone goal in a 4-2 loss to Borussia Dortmund.
Since joining Gladbach from Toulouse in the Bundesliga in 2021, he has made 85 appearances for the team, serving as a No. 8 or a holding midfielder.