Fulham midfielder Joao Palhinha is one of the most recent names linked to Liverpool following the failed pursuits of Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia.
According to Sacha Tavolieri, who first stated the Reds’ interest in the Portugal international towards the end of July, Palhinha is still part of the midfield options for Jurgen Klopp’s squad.
Tavolieri also reported in July that Liverpool were the club most keen on his signature, that was before the whirlwind of Lavia news began to heat up, but the Cottagers’ main man is now back in the frame for an Anfield switch.
Having signed for Fulham for just £20million last season, Marco Silva’s side would now require £60million if he was depart, meaning they would triple their money after just one campaign back in the Premier League.
The 28-year-old has made 40 appearances since moving from Sporting CP, scoring four goals in that time.
Alongside him in Liverpool’s list of targets is Crystal Palace man Cheick Doucoure.
A younger option, Doucoure is just 23 years of age and also a fairly new recruit to his side having joined the Eagles last summer.
He has made 36 appearances for Palace, registering three assists to date.
Although the Mali international has age on his side in comparison to Palhinha, the Fulham fan favourite boasts more power – an element currently lacking from the Reds’ midfield department.
Palhinha’s power
Not only is the Portuguese midfielder taller, standing at 6 ft 3 in in comparison to Doucoure at 5 ft 11 in, he won more tackles and headers than the Palace man last season alongside breaking up more attacks.
Liverpool are in a position where they need an experienced head in that holding role, a quick-fix that will hit the ground running, having lost Jordan Henderson and Fabinho to Saudi Pro League sides Al-Ettifaq and Al-Ittihad in recent weeks – Palhinha could be that man.
Only time will tell who Klopp opts for, but the German has to decide soon with just two weeks now left of the transfer window.
This deal could be an interesting one to keep an eye on.
‘Desperate’ Liverpool are ready to ‘try again’ for £111m star who Klopp ‘is in love with’
Liverpool are hoping to sign either Federico Valverde or Aurelien Tchouameni from Real Madrid this summer, according to reports.
The Reds made a brilliant start to the summer transfer window with the additions of Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai from Brighton and RB Leipzig respectively.
However, the unexpected departures of Jordan Henderson and Fabinho to Saudi Arabia means Jurgen Klopp will now need to bring in at least one more midfielder before the September 1 transfer deadline.
They have certainly been trying but Jamie Carragher recently criticised “embarrassing” Liverpool for their “joke” of a transfer window with recent failures in the market leaving them in “an absolute mess”.
Chelsea have beaten Liverpool to the signings of Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia, although the latter is yet to be confirmed officially, with the Reds having bids accepted for both players.
Caicedo always wanted a move to Chelsea but it was Liverpool’s bid for the former Brighton midfielder that reportedly made Lavia feel like ‘second choice’.
And, with Lavia set to follow Caicedo to Chelsea, Spanish newspaper Nacional claims that Liverpool are now hoping either Valverde or Tchouameni can boost their midfield.
Liverpool are now ‘desperate’ to land one of the two Real Madrid midfielders with Klopp ordering the Reds hierarchy to ‘reactivate interest’ in the pair.
Klopp is said to be ‘in love’ with Valverde with the German having ‘already tried to sign’ him before and the Reds coach now ‘wants to try again’ for the Uruguay international, who is said to be valued at around €130m (£111m) by Real president Florentino Perez.
If not, Liverpool will turn their attention to Tchouameni – who Klopp ‘tried to convince’ to move to Anfield before he joined Real from Monaco – despite the France international making it clear he ‘does not want to abandon’ the La Liga outfit.
Neil Jones, who has reported on Liverpool since 2009, has discussed the possible alternatives to Lavia in his column for Caught Offside.
Jones wrote on Wednesday: “On top of the Caicedo news came another blow for Liverpool, with Romeo Lavia also bound for Chelsea. This, in many ways, will hurt the Reds more. Not because he’s a better player – he most certainly is not – but because this is a deal that Liverpool could and should have had sewn up.
“Lavia has been on their radar for months, and they have had three bids rejected earlier this summer. Their reluctance to meet Southampton’s asking price, which has always been £50m, has cost them, as has their dramatic pivot towards Caicedo last week.
“And what this also does is bring Liverpool’s policy of ‘seeking value’ into sharp focus. They didn’t believe Lavia was worth £50m, which is fine. I actually agree. He isn’t.
“But in the end, they were willing to pay it because they needed a player, and they were still not able to get him. Now, when they switch their attentions elsewhere, they have only two-and-a-bit weeks to get someone in, and everyone knows they have money to spend. How likely are they to find value now?
“And who is out there? We know a few players that Liverpool like – Khephren Thuram, Ryan Gravenberch, Manu Kone, Cheick Doucoure. There’s Florentino Luis at Benfica who looks an interesting option.
“I don’t think they’d go head-to-head with Manchester United for Sofyan Amrabat, while Tyler Adams looks as if he’s off to Bournemouth. Kalvin Phillips? Joao Palhinha? How about Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad, or PSV’s Ibrahim Sangare?
“Right now, there are lots of names in the frame, and a need to move quickly and decisively. Liverpool should not be in this position, but they are. Their next move, and how successful it is, could define the rest of their season.
“In terms of outgoings, despite reports, I wouldn’t expect Curtis Jones to leave Liverpool this summer.
“They have enough midfield issues as it is, without letting one of their home-grown players leave. Jones had a good end to last season, and had a good summer with England at the U21 Euros. He looks like a player who is ready to move up a level in terms of influence and performance levels at Anfield. They won’t be selling him.”