Liverpool have two huge advantages in transfer race to sign next Moises Caicedo

Manu Kone is the fourth and final part of a series examining the situations surrounding the players Liverpool are eyeing at this month’s Under-21 Euros

If a short-term deal around a specific transfer window isn’t conducive to a director of football’s long-term success, Liverpool are hoping Jorg Schmadkte defies conventional wisdom.

“Thinking short-term in football never works,” says Victor Orta, who recently left Leeds United for Sevilla. “It is the sporting director’s job to build a project.”

Scmadtke’s deal, believed to be for an initial three-month term, isn’t long enough for him to “build a blueprint”, but if the Reds go against standard practice en masse with their switch to German, that came out of retirement on May 28, having reached the age of 59 to start work at the start of the month, they can at least benefit from his extensive network of contacts and expertise when it comes to the Bundesliga.

Given Schmadtke’s area of ​​expertise, it should come as no surprise to see Liverpool interested in Borussia Monchengladbach’s Kouadio ‘Manu’ Kone. As the recruiting team continues its efforts to assemble a midfield division at Anfield in time for the new season, Kone is seen as someone with the potential to thrive.

The midfielder, who was just 19 when he joined Germany from France, came through the Toulouse academy before signing from Borussia in the summer of 2021 and has since made nearly 60 appearances in Bundesliga in its two so far in Germany, where the lion’s share came last season. .

“Kouadio Kone is a really interesting player who we have been following for some time for the French youth teams and his club FC Toulouse,” Gladbach sporting director Max Eberl said at the time. “He is a huge talent who is being watched by top clubs all over Europe. We are delighted that he has chosen Borussia Mönchengladbach and the Bundesliga.”

With 12 yellow cards in 30 appearances last season, the tenacious midfielder would certainly bring a fighting streak to an engine room that was too often overlooked last season, although that total is undoubtedly seen as far too high for a manager. like Jurgen Klopp, whose side regularly top the fair play rankings.

At the end of May, German publication BILD reported that Liverpool “had gotten into the poker game” for Kone and had already expressed interest to representatives of the Classico Sports player.

The 22-year-old has yet to really break through on the senior international scene, but he is part of the Les Bleus Under-21 squad that withdrew from the European Championship against Italy on Thursday night.

The defensive midfielder is also capable of filling slightly more advanced roles and can count Brighton & Hove Albion’s in-demand star Moises Caicedo on his list of ‘similar players’ on scouting tool website FBref.

However, Kone’s relative inexperience and the fact that he has yet to play in the Premier League means he would be seen as a cheaper alternative to Chelsea target Caicedo. BILD reported that Borussia would be looking for between £35m and £40m.

Despite what is rumored to be growing interest from across the continent, Schmadtke’s arrival at Anfield is an intriguing aspect of any potential Kone deal for Liverpool.

The new sporting director will be well-connected in his home country and able to assess the merits of any character background checks, which will come with the relevant scouting information and data within the recruiting department.

Liverpool are known to explore as many opportunities as possible before making a transfer and regularly seek informal references and recommendations from trusted allies inside and out.

This is why Philippe Coutinho was consulted before signing Roberto Firmino in 2015, why Pep Lijnders spoke to several Portuguese football figures before signing Diogo Jota and why Schmadtke joined the Reds in the first place when he was transferred from Klopp. Agent Marc Kosicke was suggested.

Kone will already know at least one potential new Liverpool team-mate, having played for Paris FC alongside Ibrahima Konate in the early 2010s, and although both players were teenagers during their time together in the French capital, this It is not inconceivable that the central defender is consulted before any other substitution.

With Ryan Gravenberch (21), Khepren Thuram (22), Romeo Lavia (19) and Gabri Veiga (21) all currently in discussion alongside Kone, 22, Liverpool have clearly identified a younger profile to follow Addition by Alexis Mac Allister earlier this month.

And a few discreet conversations by Schmadtke with the right people in German could be the key to Liverpool sealing a deal for Kone.