Liverpool Face Needing To Pay Eyewatering Fee For Midfield Target

Crystal Palace are set to hold out for a massive fee for Liverpool midfield target Cheick Doucoure this summer, according to journalist Alan Nixon.

Liverpool are desperate to sign a defensive midfielder before the window slams shut in two weeks’ time.

They had a bid accepted for Moises Caicedo but the Brighton midfielder rejected them and joined Chelsea instead of travelling to Merseyside.

Southampton also accepted a bid from Liverpool for Romeo Lavia but the Belgian also rejected the Reds in favour of a move to Chelsea.

Doucoure has emerged as a target for the Merseyside giants but it has been claimed that Liverpool will have to dig deep for the Palace star.

The south London club are on the verge of losing Michael Olise and are reluctant to let another important player such as Doucoure at this stage of the window.

It has been claimed that Crystal Palace are unlikely to want to sell the midfielder unless they receive a fee worth £100m.

They have already watched two defensive midfielders move clubs for fees in excess of £100m in Declan Rice and Caicedo.

Crystal Palace are not interested in selling Doucoure for anything less than that figure this summer.

read more

Liverpool are said to be chasing the signature of Cheick Doucoure of Crystal Palace, as the club looks to regroup following the public failed transfer sagas involving Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia.

Jurgen Klopp is said to now be turning his attention to the highly-rated Malian midfielder, with the club now beginning to “step up their efforts” in order to get his signature, according to the Independent’s Chief Football Writer, Miguel Delaney.

In terms of the transfer fee the 23-year-old would command, it is said that the final price could come in below £60m, significantly cheaper than Brighton’s Caicedo, and with the right negotiations, cheaper than Lavia.

It is also understood that Doucoure is keen on a move to Liverpool and personal terms would not be an issue if an offer was submitted and accepted.

However, the deal won’t necessarily be easy. Crystal Palace, like every other club, now know Liverpool are desperate for midfielders of Doucoure’s ilk and have at least £111m to spend in that department.

Cheick Doucoure: What is the Crystal Palace midfielder’s real transfer value?

When combined with the season already well underway and the fact that Palace are wary of losing too many players – especially one of their key midfielders – it could perhaps be a tough negotiation for Liverpool if they were to pursue a deal.

According to Delaney’s report, the Reds are also looking at Fulham’s Joao Paulinha and Nice’s Khephren Thuram but 23-year-old Doucoure is seen as a more viable option as of right now.