Liverpool are interested in Fulham’s Joao Palhinha but are mindful of the £60 million price tag.

Liverpool are interested in Fulham’s Joao Palhinha but are mindful of the £60 million price tag.

Liverpool are in a race against time to bring in much-needed midfield reinforcements, with Fulham’s Joao Palhinha and Crystal Palace teenager Cheick Doucoure among the favourites.

Chelsea’s double swoop of Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia has left the Reds reeling, despite the Anfield club originally negotiating a British trade record amount for the former after spending much of the summer wooing the latter.

Mail Sport believes that as many as six targets are being evaluated as the club scrambles to sign a defensive midfielder before the transfer market closes on September 1.

The most admired of the choices is Fulham’s feisty midfielder Palhinha, who topped the league in effective tackles last season. However, the club is hesitant whether to pay the £60 million or more required to lure the 28-year-old away from Craven Cottage.

Despite his apparent talents, the Portuguese international is significantly older than the club’s desired profile of acquisition and is now on the sidelines after being forced out with a shoulder injury in his side’s pre-season friendly against Brentford last month.

Liverpool are interested in Fulham’s Joao Palhinha but are mindful of the £60 million price tag.

Doucoure, a Palace youth who joined the club from Ligue 1 outfit Lens last summer, is another player being evaluated. Liverpool were connected with the 23-year-old earlier in the transfer season, but the Eagles countered with a £70 million value.

But, given their need to fill the position and the £110 million they were willing to pay for Caicedo, Liverpool may suddenly see the Mali international as a feasible option.

Jurgen Klopp’s team had started their summer recruitment with a bang, signing Alexis MacAllister and Dominik Szoboszlai for a combined total of £95 million.

However, the unforeseen exits of Jordan Henderson and Fabinho necessitated the recruitment of at least one premium midfielder.

Sofyan Amrabat of Fiorentina, a Manchester United target, and Kalvin Phillips of Manchester City were two names who had been ruled out previous to the latest occurrences. However, they are also thought to be under consideration in the club’s current position.