Why Liverpool want to sign “monstrous” £50m star

Over the years, Liverpool has been the home to countless talented midfielders who have often captured the hearts of the fanbase with their efforts on the pitch.

Steven Gerrard is arguably the most iconic midfielder to ever wear the Red shirt, having spent the vast majority of his professional career on Merseyside.

In the present day, Andoni Iraola has the likes of Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch to call upon – but both have undoubtedly cemented themselves in the club’s history.

The aforementioned duo played alongside one another at the heart of the midfield at Anfield, helping the club secure Premier League glory under Arne Slot back in 2024/25.

They’re not the only players to achieve such a feat, with new boss Iraola potentially wishing he could call upon one former star during his maiden campaign at the helm.

Why Fabinho would have been perfect for Iraola at Liverpool

During Jürgen Klopp’s Premier League title-winning campaign as Liverpool boss back in 2019/20, he often utilised Brazilian midfielder Fabinho at the heart of his side.

The 32-year-old spent five years on the books of the Reds, subsequently amassing 219 appearances across all competitions and winning five major honours.

Whilst he left the club three years ago this summer, new boss Iraola will wish he had a player of his nature within the senior ranks for the 2026/27 campaign.

Fabinho was the perfect deep-lying ball-winner for the Reds, as seen by his stats during the club’s title-winning campaign, where he made a staggering 2.7 successful tackles per 90.

The aforementioned figure ranked him in the top 15% of all midfielders in the Premier League, with Iraola a manager who loves a player who can break up the play at the base of his side.

However, in possession, the Brazilian was also a player who could have a huge impact on the play, subsequently completing 87% of the passes he attempted back in 2019/20.

An all-round player of his quality in today’s market would cost a small fortune, but who’s to say the new manager can’t land a similar player during the ongoing window?

Liverpool could sign their new Fabinho

Liverpool have spent a huge chunk of cash in the transfer market in recent years to try and make the club a consistent challenger for the Premier League title.

Over £450m was spent on new additions last summer, but Iraola’s arrival as boss could see an influx of added signings ahead of the 2026/27 campaign.

One player who’s appeared on their radar over the last couple of days is Roma midfielder Manu Kone – a player who has massively caught the eye at the ongoing World Cup.

It’s been reported by journalist Wilson Cox that Liverpool have a growing interest in the France international but could face competition from Manchester United for his signature.

He also states that personal terms are not expected to be an issue between the Reds and the player, but it’s unclear how much a deal for the 25-year-old could cost in the months ahead.

Previously valued at £50m, the interest in Kone’s signature showcases that the Reds are targeting the right calibre of player to make an impact under Iraola, with his stats from the ongoing tournament highlighting his quality at both ends.

The Frenchman has completed 93% of the passes he’s attempted this summer, whilst also achieving a long-ball accuracy of 83% – leading to Rio Ferdinand labelling him “France’s best midfielder.”

Both of the aforementioned tallies rank him in the top 10% of midfielders at the World Cup – subsequently highlighting his talent with the ball at his feet, just as Fabinho did during his time at Liverpool.

Without the ball, Kone has also caught the eye, as seen by his tally of 4.5 ground duels won and 5.5 ball recoveries made per 90 – the latter also placing him above 85% of players at the tournament. There is a reason he was hailed by scout Jacek Kulig as a “monstrous box-to-box midfielder“.

His tally of 2.2 tackles made per 90 reaffirms his sensational ability to disrupt the opposition, something which Iraola craves in his midfielders within his 4-2-3-1 system.

The French star’s ability to break up the play is also similar to that of the former Reds fan-favourite, with the 25-year-old a player who could thrive under the new manager’s guidance.

Whilst it remains unclear how much Roma could demand for their star midfielder, Liverpool desperately need to work tirelessly to secure his signature – especially considering United’s interest.

His talent at both ends of the pitch makes him the perfect deep-lying signing for Iraola’s men, which could also see him emulate Fabinho’s success at Anfield in the process.