Liverpool ready to swoop in and steal Man Utd’s transfer, dealing a big blow to Michael Carrick
Liverpool is making a move to swoop in on one of Manchester United’s top transfer targets, according to recent reports. The Reds, getting ready for the 2026/27 season with new manager Andoni Iraola, have already beaten Newcastle to sign Osasuna winger Victor Munoz. They also have a promising defender, Jeremy Jacquet, joining after agreeing a £60 million deal with Lille back in February.
One area Liverpool really wants to improve is central midfield, which has been a bit of a struggle lately. According to The Kopite View via TEAMtalk, they are showing fresh interest in France’s Manu Kone, who has been standing out at the World Cup. Liverpool has admired Kone for some time now.
With Aurelien Tchouameni out injured, Kone has stepped up in his first World Cup and put in several strong games in central midfield. The 24-year-old has started four matches for France, who face Spain in the semi-finals in Arlington, Texas, this Tuesday.
United also need help in midfield after Casemiro left, and they had their eyes on Atalanta’s Ederson but stepped back from a £35 million move due to concerns about his knee. They might look at other Serie A options like Roma’s younger players. But Kone, with his skills, could be a great fit for Liverpool as Iraola reshapes the team.
It’s said that Kone, who has three years left on his contract, might come for about £47 million. At the World Cup, he’s been partnered with Adrien Rabiot, helping balance the midfield and letting stars like Michael Olise, Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele, and Desire Doue shine. Coach Didier Deschamps praised them, saying they’re key in winning the ball and setting up attacks.
However, French news outlet L’Equipe says Kone probably won’t start in Tuesday’s semi-final. They report that Tchouameni has recovered and is expected to return to the starting lineup. Despite Kone’s solid performance against Morocco, Tchouameni’s role is crucial for the team’s balance, and Rabiot is also in great form.
Kone began his career at Toulouse in France before moving to Borussia Monchengladbach, where he made 86 appearances. He then made a name for himself at Roma, playing 82 times over two seasons. Kone made his debut for France in September 2024 and has earned 18 caps so far.