After we reported this week that Liverpool have genuine interest in Ikone, we are now told that a meeting with the Frenchman’s agent is set for next week.
Last week, reports from Pedro Almeida claimed that the Reds had made a bid of €25m + Xherdan Shaqiri and while these claims are wide of the mark, there is genuine interest in signing Ikone this summer.
All in all, the France U21 star has 14 goals and assists this season and at just 23, he has all the time in the world to develop and grow into a player that can make a serious impact for his next club.
Liverpool will meet this week with the agent of Ikone to explore a potential summer deal but it must be said it’s too soon to make assumptions about the likelihood of him joining the club.
LILLE, FRANCE – MARCH 8: Jonathan Ikone of Lille during the Ligue 1 match between Lille OSC (LOSC) and Olympique Lyonnais (Lyon, OL) at Stade Pierre Mauroy on March 8, 2020 in Villeneuve d’Ascq near Lille, France. (Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty Images)
Him playing with Ibrahima Konate for France U21 will be helpful but these days, the Reds need little help with selling their sporting project to Europe’s brightest talents as the results speak for themselves.
The 20/21 season aside, Jurgen Klopp’s tenure as manager at Anfield has been a steady rise to the top of European football and the only thing that could disrupt his momentum was an injury to every player that made an appearance at centre-back this season.
The biggest barrier to signing Ikone will be Lille’s willingness to do a deal at an affordable price point with Liverpool still holding back on splashing the cash in the hopes the right opportunity presents itself.
LEIPZIG, GERMANY – JANUARY 09: Jadon Sancho of Borussia Dortmund celebrates after scoring their team’s first goal during the Bundesliga match between RB Leipzig and Borussia Dortmund at Red Bull Arena on January 09, 2021 in Leipzig, Germany. (Photo by Maja Hitij/Getty Images)
Jadon Sancho is available this summer but our sources claim it will cost in the region of £90million to pry him from Borussia Dortmund’s clutches and the Reds are as yet unwilling to spend that much.
Following the £36million move to sign Ibrahima Konate, Liverpool are biding their time in the transfer market and with the window not even officially open yet, there is no rush to make any more signings.
