Liverpool are moving for a £70 million replacement for Jordan Henderson, following the Reds captain agreeing terms to move to Saudi Arabia.
Henderson is set to end his 12-year stint on Merseyside this summer to join Steven Gerrard's Al-Ettifaq, according to transfer guru, Fabrizio Romano. It is claimed that the 33-year-old is set to agree a three-year deal.
On top of Henderson leaving Liverpool, it's possible that Fabinho could depart too, with a £40m move reportedly close for the Brazilian. If both go through, manager Jurgen Klopp will have lost five senior midfielders this summer, with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, James Milner and Naby Keita all leaving at the end of last season, too.
Now, the Mail are reporting that Liverpool are now chasing £70m-rated Cheick Doucoure.
The Malian midfielder only joined Crystal Palace last summer for a fee believed to be in the region of £18m. The manager he was bought by, Patrick Vieira, has since left the club to be replaced by Roy Hodgson.
At just 23-year-old, Doucoure has already impressed hugely as a defensive midfielder at Lens in Ligue 1 and may well be used as a lone No.6 by Klopp, due to Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister joining in the No.8 positions. Equally, however, Doucoure could feature as a No.8. It's likely that whatever position he plays in, Trent Alexander-Arnold will join him as an inverted full-back.
Palace have signed Jefferson Lerma from Bournemouth on a free transfer already in the transfer market. Though the Colombian was signed to slot in alongside Doucoure, he can fulfil a number of the same tasks and the £70m transfer fee would allow the Eagles to adequately restock in a number of positions.
Hodgson may also have to contend with losing Wilf Zaha on a free transfer this summer and face the task of having to replace one of his most influential performers – suggesting that a mammoth transfer fee may benefit Selhurst Park.
Transfermarkt values Doucoure at €35m.
More Liverpool stories
Liverpool transfer news is ramping up ahead of a huge overhaul at Anfield this summer.
Benjamin Pavard of Bayern Munich has been linked, while James Ward-Prowse is said to be on the shortlist. Celta Vigo's Gabri Veiga is a target and Khephren Thuram of Nice is said to be close to joining – but Manuel Ugarte is one star who won't be moving to Merseyside.
Meanwhile, Diogo Jota has told FFT that Liverpool can win the title in 2024.
