Liverpool 'stepping up' bid to sign £60m Romeo Lavia alternative, he's 'keen' to join the Reds

Liverpool have stepped up their interest in Crystal Palace midfielder Cheick Doucoure, it has been claimed.

The Independent's Miguel Delaney has claimed Liverpool are stepping up their efforts to sign the Palace midfielder after being rebuffed by their primary targets.

Liverpool have missed out on multiple defensive midfield targets in the past week with both Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia having opted for a move to Stamford Bridge over Anfield.

And the Reds have now turned their attention to Doucoure, who is reportedly likely to be cheaper than previous targets. The Mali international's final price could come in at under £60million, although Palace are wary of losing too many players in one window.

The Eagles have already seen club talisman Wilfried Zaha depart to Galatasaray on a free transfer in pursuit of Champions League football, while Michael Olise appears to be on the cusp of joining Chelsea, after the Blues activated the winger's £35million release clause.

As per the Independent Doucoure is understood to be keen to move to Anfield, with personal terms unlikely to be an issue.

Liverpool are also reportedly interested in Fulham's Joao Paulinha and Nice's Khephren Thuram, but Doucoure is said to be seen as a more viable option at present.

Klopp has stressed the need for Liverpool to revamp their midfield before the end of the transfer window.

The German said: “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. 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. We all share responsibility and it’s not that we should give ourselves too much time to grow into it, let’s do it.

“Let’s take the responsibility and go from there and don’t try to be like somebody. Be the best version of yourself and then you have a good chance to help the team in the best possible way.”

Topics: Football, Liverpool, Crystal Palace, Premier League

Chris Byfield

Sport journalist with experience writing on football, rugby, boxing and the Olympics. I'm also a Crystal Palace fan. Please don't hold this against me.