Khephren Thuram and Manu Kone are the subjects of negotiations between Liverpool and them, but Feyenoord star Orkun Kokcu is still a top priority.
According to Football Transfers, Feyonoord’s midfielder is still a top target for a transfer, but Jurgen Klopp and the club’s new sporting director, Jorg Schmadtke, will decide whether to proceed.
We hear that talks with the Nice star Thuram are advanced. Indeed, Anfield appears to be the favoured destination for the France international, whose father, legendary defender Lillian, is leading the negotiations. Jurgen Klopp is a huge fan of the midfielder, and the player seems happy to join Liverpool over rival interest, which includes Paris Saint-Germain.
The Ligue 1 champions are still interested in Manuel Ugarte and will only buy Thuram with installment payments.
Things are a little more complicated for Kone. The amount of interest is a subject of disagreement among sources. What we do know is that conversations have taken place, just as they had throughout the winter window, as we had previously reported. We have heard from sources that Borussia Monchengladbach is still hoping for a fee of between €35 and €40 million. Additionally, Romeo Lavia is a target, as we exclusively disclosed in March.
Newcastle are at the table for both French players as well, however. The Magpies held preliminary discussions with the Kone in the January transfer window, while there have been further talks with the 22-year-old and Thuram ahead of the summer. They remain keen, although there seems to be a drive to find players in the Premier League over the foreign market for the Magpies, with Eddie Howe and Dan Ashworth favouring experience. Furthermore, both players are pushing for a move to Liverpool above all else.
Meanwhile, Mason Mount is nearing a move to Manchester United but both the side and Chelsea must agree on a fee, something that Man Utd’s takeover is holding up. Klopp and the club had put in months of legwork to ensure the England international arrived but it seems the prospect of Champions League football and a higher wage packet has turned his head. The Reds had met with his father and agent as far back as last year.
Alexis Mac Allister, who Liverpool moved for after Jude Bellingham opted for Real Madrid, has almost agreed personal terms with the Reds.
Bellingham will eventually sign with Los Blancos, despite the fact that the team has not yet made an official offer. Despite what has been reported elsewhere, we are told that Liverpool was always his top preference and that several discussions took place at the team’s London offices last year. At this point in the process of his move to Madrid, it is not surprise that Bellingham has dismissed rumors that he favors a move to the club he is set to join.
