The Sunderland defender would be a sensible signing for Liverpool this summer.
Reds boss Jürgen Klopp has struggled to secure the signings of some of his primary transfer targets so far this summer, and the German will surely be determined to get some deals over the line before the transfer window slams shut at the end of this month.
One of Liverpool’s priority targets was and still is Southampton centre-back Virgil van Dijk, but with the Saints reluctant to sell their star man, Klopp’s pursuit of the Dutchman looks set to end in disappointment.
With this in mind, the Merseyside outfit will surely have to be lining up alternative targets to the 26-year-old, in preparation for the eventuality that they fail to convince the south coast outfit into selling the towering defender.
And a useful back-up option for Liverpool and Klopp could be Black Cats centre-back Lamine Kone, whose future at the Stadium of Light seems uncertain to say the least.
The 28-year-old is a commanding defender, and whilst it would be foolish to argue that he is in the same league as Van Dijk, he undoubtedly has a lot to offer the Reds.
Kone is quick along the ground, and strong in the challenge. He is highly athletic and possesses impressive stamina levels – two attributes that are vital for anyone who plays under Klopp.
There is of course the added bonus that he could be available for around £7 million, according to the Sun – some £53 million less than Southampton would expect for Van Dijk.
Whilst the Sunderland man might not be the blockbuster signing that Liverpool fans expect, he would certainly fill a void at Anfield, and could still be a significant addition to Klopp’s squad.
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