Manu Kone: Potential destinations for Borussia Monchengladbach star
An underwhelming Bundesliga campaign has left Borussia Monchengladbach at the mercy of Europe's elite.
Gladbach have been on a steady decline since they secured their third-ever Champions League berth under Marco Rose in 2020, and their tenth-place finish in 2022/23 was deeply uninspiring. This is a talented squad that woefully underperformed and next season's iteration of Die Fohlen could look very different with several players bound to leave the club this summer.
Young French midfielder Manu Kone is one of the hottest names in transfer rumour mills right now, and Gladbach sporting director Roland Virkus has admitted the German club will "think about" letting him depart should a reasonable offer come in.
Kone has attracted interest from the Premier League after an impressive season in the Bundesliga, and here are three clubs that could sign him this summer.
3. Paris Saint-Germain
PSG's midfield reshuffle returned mixed success in 2022/23 as they once again failed to come close to achieving their ultimate goal of Champions League glory.
Les Parisiens have rarely turned to the French capital, a breeding ground a supreme talent, in their bid to ascend the continental pantheon, but they may well opt to pursue the Parisian-born Kone this summer.
PSG reportedly held an interest in the 22-year-old back in March and they may view Kone as a potential successor to Marco Verratti with Leandro Paredes likely to be moved on once he returns from his Juventus loan.
While Kone differs in profile to the metronomic Italian, a more imposing presence at the base of midfield could stand the French club in good stead moving forward given their current lack of 'power' at the position.
2. Borussia Dortmund
Dortmund have a gaping void they need to fill this summer following the exit of superstar midfielder Jude Bellingham to Real Madrid.
The English teenager was the heartbeat of BVB throughout 2022/23 as they were cruelly pipped to their first league title in over a decade on the final day.
Dortmund will expect more from Turkish international Salih Ozcan next season and beyond, but they'll undoubtedly venture into the transfer market in a bid to mitigate Bellingham's departure.
The defensively astute Kone wouldn't be a direct replacement for the swashbuckling box-to-box Englishman, but he could emerge as a stabilising force alongside Ozcan and Emre Can in BVB's engine room. Kone's experience of the Bundesliga could tempt Sebastian Kehl and company.
1. Liverpool
Liverpool are seeking to quickly fix their midfield following a disappointing 2022/23 campaign that culminated in Europa League football.
The Reds have let the likes of James Milner, Naby Keita, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain depart, while dynamic box-to-box midfielder Alexis Mac Allister has been drafted in from Brighton.
However, Liverpool have also been linked with moves for French duo Kone and Khéphren Thuram. Their rebuild certainly doesn't start and end with Mac Allister.
Kone's energy, athleticism, and capacity to win duels renders him an excellent fit for Jurgen Klopp's midfield, but the latest reports from Germany suggest a move to Anfield is currently unlikely despite the club's interest.