Liverpool Aiming for £60m Midfielder as Top Romeo Lavia Alternative

Liverpool Football Club has shifted its focus to Crystal Palace midfielder Cheick Doucoure in an intensified effort to bolster its ranks. Miguel Delaney of The Independent reports that the Merseyside club’s pursuit of Doucoure has gained traction, as the team navigates a challenging transfer window.

After facing setbacks in their pursuit of primary targets for the defensive midfield position, Liverpool has now turned its gaze towards Doucoure. The club faced disappointment as both Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia opted for moves to Stamford Bridge instead of Anfield.

Doucoure, who hails from Mali, is seen as a potentially more economical option than previous targets, with a potential price tag of under £60 million. However, Crystal Palace remains cautious about losing too many key players in a single transfer window.

The Eagles have already bid farewell to their standout performer Wilfried Zaha, who departed for Galatasaray in search of Champions League football. Additionally, Michael Olise’s imminent move to Chelsea is in progress after the Blues activated his £35 million release clause.

According to The Independent, Doucoure is eager to join the ranks at Anfield, and personal terms are not expected to pose a hurdle in negotiations.

While Liverpool has also expressed interest in Fulham’s Joao Paulinha and Nice’s Khephren Thuram, Doucoure seems to be the more feasible option at this juncture. Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool’s manager, has emphasized the urgency of revamping the team’s midfield composition before the transfer window closes.

In Klopp’s words: “We don’t have to always say ‘Milner would have said that and Henderson would have said that and Firmino would have smiled here.’ We should not do it like that. That makes no sense. We have this kind of new start with this Liverpool reloaded, it’s an exciting thing.”

Klopp further highlighted the collective responsibility of the team and the need for players to embrace their unique strengths in contributing to the team’s success: “Everybody was asking for changes, rightly so, because we were together for a long time. It’s a new chance for everybody, everybody has to step up.”

As Liverpool navigates the dynamic landscape of the transfer window, the pursuit of Doucoure signifies the club’s determination to reinforce its midfield ranks for the challenges ahead.