Jermaine Pennant has identified Manu Kone as the signing Liverpool should make in the January transfer window.
The Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder is on the cusp of the full French international team after breaking into the under-21s, and has been linked with a move away from the Bundesliga.
After Jurgen Klopp spent heavily on the side’s midfield in the summer, following the exit of Fabinho, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Jordan Henderson, James Milner and Naby Keita, Pennant told Lucky Block that Kone would offer something different compared to the current options.
He said: "I'd like to see Liverpool sign a proper enforcer in January. For me, that player would be Manu Kone. I think he would be a great number six and encourage Mac Allister to move further forward. Kone would be the icing on the cake, and so would Khéphren Thuram - I've always been a huge fan of his. He may not play as a 6, but you could make it work. If we can get them in January, then we're looking at a boss midfield!
“I think this is up there with Klopp's greatest transfer windows. He's got everything down to a tee. Dominik Szoboszlai has had an unbelievable start, [Alexis] Mac Allister is a quality signing, even though I'd like to see him play a bit further forward.
“[Wataru] Endo will be solid once he settles, and Ryan Gravenberch looks exciting, too. Liverpool needed fresh legs and new energy, and now they've got it. For the first time in years, it doesn't look like Liverpool's midfield will be overrun. They're solid, confident, and chipping in with goals themselves. This midfield has already scored more goals than the one last season! I don't think Henderson scored once, and I think Fab only got two. This midfield has already bettered that.”