Liverpool have emerged as potential suitors for AS Roma midfielder Manu Kone, according to transfer expert David Ornstein of The Athletic.
The 25-year-old has established himself as a key player at the Stadio Olimpico since arriving from Bundesliga side Borussia Monchengladbach a couple of years ago.
Ornstein was speaking on The Athletic FC Podcast when the topic of potential January transfer deals arose, specifically around players who nearly moved in a previous window.
He said: “Manu Kone, from the aforementioned Roma. He came very close to joining Chelsea before they pivoted to Lamine Camara.”
Ornstein added further context around the likelihood of a move happening, pointing to several factors that could influence the situation in the coming months.
He continued: “Let’s see what position Roma are in at the time in terms of European football and financial compliance. We saw him starting a lot for France at the World Cup, and [he] was looked at very heavily by Manchester United, Chelsea. I think Liverpool like him as well as one of their potential future options.”
Kone is valued at around £43m by Transfermarkt and remains under contract at Roma until 2029, giving the Italian club little pressure to sell.
The midfielder operates primarily as a defensive midfielder but is equally capable in a box-to-box role, combining physicality with technical ability and defensive reliability.
Chelsea had hoped to sign Kone on deadline day as a replacement for Enzo Fernandez, but Roma head coach Gian Piero Gasperini blocked the transfer from going through.
Chelsea subsequently turned their attention to Monaco’s Lamine Camara, agreeing a €55m deal, only for the Ligue 1 club to cancel the move at the last minute.
The involvement of The Friedkin Group, who own both Everton and Roma, adds an interesting layer of complexity to any potential negotiations involving the Italian club.
Liverpool’s interest, as described by Ornstein, appears to be long-term in nature rather than an immediate and concrete pursuit at this stage.
Whether the Merseyside club will make a formal approach in January remains to be seen, but Kone’s profile clearly continues to attract attention from some of Europe’s biggest sides.