Ben Jacobs: Liverpool Keen on Manu Kone as Trio Named on Midfield Shortlist

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Liverpool are looking to make a signing in central midfield in 2027

Liverpool are ramping up their plans to sign a new central midfielder in 2027, with another name joining Lamine Camara and Alex Scott on their transfer shortlist.

Even though Curtis Jones left for Inter Milan and Alexis Mac Allister's long-term future at Anfield has been called into question after he publicly suggested that the club told him they were unable to offer him a new contract, Liverpool didn't add a new midfielder to their ranks in the summer.

The Reds focused on bolstering their attack instead following the exit of Mohamed Salah, getting a big-money deal over the line for Bradley Barcola, which they had been working hard on for many weeks.

Mac Allister is currently being preferred in the starting XI ahead of Ryan Gravenberch who, along with Dominik Szoboszlai, signed a new long-term deal to stay at Anfield earlier in 2026.

The Argentina international will have 18 months left on his contract by the time the January transfer window arrives, and it will be interesting to see what happens next and whether the Merseysiders do indeed choose to offer the 27-year-old new and improved terms.

If Iraola not favouring Gravenberch continues to be a longer-term theme, then it would be no surprise to see Liverpool bring in a new out-and-out defensive midfielder in 2027.

There have been some suggestions that they are in talks with the camp of Real Madrid midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni, but GIVEMESPORT senior correspondent Ben Jacobs has revealed three other names who are on the club's shortlist.

Alex Scott vs Croatia

- Touches 81 - Accurate passes 68/74 - Pass accuracy 92% - Accurate long balls 3/5 - Defensive contributions 5 - Tackles 3 - Duels won 4/6

The interest in Bournemouth midfielder Scott is no surprise given he is being looked at by every top Premier League club and Iraola had him during his time managing the Cherries.

The 23-year-old may have just suffered an injury that could keep him sidelined for up to two months, but he put himself firmly in the shop window with an excellent full England debut in the 7-0 demolition of Croatia in Rijeka last weekend.

Meanwhile, Jacobs revealed previously that Liverpool had informed Monaco star Camara on deadline day that he was high on their shortlist in 2027 if his move to Chelsea fell through, which it did.

Liverpool are also looking at another midfielder in AS Roma's Manu Kone, who continues to go from strength to strength in Serie A and for the France national team.

While Scott and Camara are making big impacts at their clubs, it does feel like there is something a bit special about Kone.

He has been a consistent performer for Roma for a long time now, as he closes in on his 100th appearance for the Serie A giants.

Perhaps what is most impressive is that his performances for France at the 2026 World Cup saw him cement his place as a key player for Didier Deschamps' men, which led to Les Bleus legend Patrick Vieira coming out with some huge praise for the 25-year-old.

> “He had a really good season in Serie A with Roma. He came to the World Cup after a couple of injuries.

> He is for me today the best midfielder in France. I’d put him ahead of Tchaouameni and Rabiot, because he has this mobility, he is aggressive, he is a ball-winner, and he has the technical ability to be part of the build-up, has the facility with the ball to break lines and move forward.

Vieira has perfectly summed up why Kone would be such an exciting signing for Liverpool right there.

Not only is he capable of sweeping up in front of the defence, but he then has the athleticism to not only then carry the ball up the pitch, but also provide line-breaking passes to help from an attacking point of view.

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