Crystal Palace midfielder Cheick Doucoure is the latest midfielder to be linked to the Reds this summer.
Liverpool are undergoing a period of substantial change in the middle part of the pitch with Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai coming in while as many as five players could be heading out of the club.
Already James Milner, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita have departed while expectation is rife that captain Jordan Henderson and Fabinho could be joining the exodus to the Saudi League as soon as this week.
Doucoure is the younger brother of Abdoulaye who is currently at Everton and had a fine debut season for the Eagles after signing from Lens last summer for just over £20 million winning their Player of the season award.
In terms of age demographic, the 23 year old fits the criteria that Liverpool are in the market for.
And while Roméo Lavia has been the player that has been most heavily linked to the club in terms of holding midfielders, the fact that 19 year old from Belgium is still learning his trade having only one full season in senior football, that being the recently completed campaign for Southampton.
In contrast, Doucoure has just completed his fifth season and adjusted seamlessly from Ligue 1 to the Premier League.
Football Insider report that those in charge of transfers at the club are aware of the Mali international’s talent and he is certainly in their thinking as a option to replace the Brazilian.
Doucoure currently has a contract with the South London club until 2027 and is on £60,000 a week.
A snapshot into his season reveals that Doucoure made more tackles and interceptions than any other Palace player – and averaged the fourth-most interceptions of any Premier League star (per 90 mins).
The only downside in a signing like Doucoure is that he will be absent for the first few weeks of 2024 due to Mali qualifying for the African Cup of Nations.
With Lavia being touted in the £50 million price range, you suspect that Doucoure will be something similar or even dearer with Palace unlike Southampton having no requirement to sell one of their best players with their Premier status secure for the time being.
But if it means bringing in a player that brings a skillset that will benefit the side and who is yet to reach his prime years, then it should be seriously considered.
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