Liverpool have been given an upper hand in their pursuit of Bundesliga starlet Kouadio Kone as current club Borussia Monchengladbach have lowered their initial asking price.
It was reported by Sky Sports that Liverpool were previously monitoring Kone’s situation, while Football Transfers reported he remained merely a target for the Reds.
Kone was originally priced out at £40m but the German side are willing to take a cut to £27m for someone to snap up the 21-year-old prospect, according to SportBILD via Gladbach Live.
The Merseyside club are just one of the many teams interested in the youngster’s services with Bayern Munich, Newcastle United and Paris Saint-Germain all sniffing around in January.
His contract still has two years left, but his reduced price tag may entice a suitor to come in and secure the midfielder for an absolute steal.
Borussia Monchengladbach have often relied on his midfield brilliance, but with Marcus Thuram and Remy Bensebaini set to depart, Daniel Farke may be reduced to selling his combative midfield to fund an overhaul.
Midfield reinforcements for Jurgen Klopp’s squad will be imperative as he looks to restructure his team back to glory.
Kone is a profound all-rounder and would breathe a new form of life into Klopp’s squad after a challenging period in England’s top flight.
He has showcased his versatility and athleticism since his move from Toulouse and has adapted well to the increased pace and physicality of the Bundesliga, which bodes well with his links to a Premier League move.
Liverpool are also in the race for Jude Bellingham, but Kone is a much cheaper option, with both players ideal to being long-term successors to current midfielders Jordan Henderson and Thiago Alcantara.
