Liverpool remain in the mix for one of Europe's in-demand players. They're refusing to give up and a bid is fully expected.
There's no question that Liverpool need to work on their midfield. We imagined they would back in the summer as it felt natural to add to a group that struggled to control matches last season.
Instead, the club sold Curtis Jones and didn't replace him. So Liverpool are actually down a midfielder at a time when it felt very sensible to sign a new one.
The start to the season has shown that decision up for what it was: madness. The Reds typically struggle to control games, either through possession or halting counter-attacks, and it's led to them sitting on track for 55 points.
Now, the club clearly know there's a problem and it's expected that they'll rectify things in 2027. A midfielder is on the way, in other words - but who?
Liverpool in for Manu Kone
TuttoMercatoWeb reports that Liverpool remain in the race for Manu Kone. The midfielder may leave AS Roma next year and both the Reds and Chelsea have him 'in their crosshairs'.
On top of that, Roma feel a bid of over €60m is on its way. This comes after they rejected an offer of that amount from Chelsea in the summer.
It's an interesting one, though. Kone is a good player but does seem quite similar to what Liverpool currently have. Our Value Adder model feels he's very close to Ryan Gravenberch in terms of style and is that really what the team needs right now?
We're not so sure. Someone more adept at keeping the middle solid feels like a more sensible signing but then Liverpool are very much of the idea that signing the 'best' players is the way forward - not necessarily those with the best 'fit' in this squad.
That could ultimately lead to Kone joining, or at least a bid going in. Roma are reluctant to sell but have grand transfer plans of their own and selling the midfielder for a large amount goes a long way to funding them.
Maybe that helps Liverpool get this one over the line, then. They have other options, certainly, but it seems clear that Kone is prominently on their shortlist.