The Liverpool scouting department have a firm belief about Joao Palhinha as manager Jurgen Klopp ponders a transfer for the Fulham midfielder recently offered to Chelsea.
That is according to GOAL, which reports that Liverpool have had their scouts track Palhinha for some time. Now, he is on the Reds’ radar as Anfield chiefs explore potential targets who could replace Fabinho and Jordan Henderson. Klopp is overseeing a vast rebuild in midfield.
James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain have already moved away from the Reds this summer. While Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai have joined Liverpool in £35m and £60m deals respectively. But the efforts continue to rebuild Klopp’s engine room.
Liverpool’s scouts have a firm belief about Joao Palhinha of Fulham
Palhinha would be a slight break from Liverpool’s normal transfer policy as the Fulham ace is now 28 years old. But the Portuguese impressed greatly in his debut Premier League season last term. He excelled as the conductor of Marco Silva’s plans while also offering three goals.
Liverpool coach Klopp even described Palhinha as Fulham’s ‘connector’ this May for how he linked their play together. Now, the Reds’ scouts firmly believe he could replicate the role on Merseyside. But Anfield chiefs face a big price tag and rival interest in the Premier League.
West Ham target Joao Palhinha has now been offered to Chelsea
Fulham have already rejected a £40m offer by West Ham United this summer for Palhinha’s transfer, per talkSPORT. The Irons are now weighing up an improved bid. But intermediaries have offered Palhinha’s transfer from Fulham to Chelsea as the Blues target new midfielders.
Agents have approached Chelsea to discuss a deal for Palhinha as Mauricio Pochettino eyes Moises Caicedo’s switch. Stamford Bridge chiefs are struggling to strike a deal with Brighton & Hove Albion. But the Blues do not currently want Palhinha after turning 28 back on July 9.
The Blues’ recruitment policy, like the Reds’, is to target younger players. So, Chelsea have rejected the offer to target Palhinha’s transfer amid interest from West Ham, plus Liverpool. The Cottagers want a sky-high fee for a player Danny Murphy called ‘phenomenal’ this May,
According to 90min, the Cottagers value the midfielder at £80m just one year after they paid Sporting Lisbon £20m. The price tag is more than West Ham like, despite selling Declan Rice for £100m. But there is also a feeling that Fulham would accept £60m for Palhinha’s transfer.
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