Liverpool given transfer headache as Palace slap staggering fee on top Klopp target; astonishing double deal to see spending hit £215m

Crystal Palace are doing their best to deter Liverpool over a move for Cheick Doucoure by slapping a minimum £70m fee on his head amid claims Jurgen Klopp and Co are ready to initiate contact over a possible transfer.

The Merseysiders’ engine room could soon become four men light compared to last season. Before the curtain was brought down on the 2022/23 campaign, it was confirmed James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain would all depart as free agents. They were then soon followed out the door by loanee Arthur Melo, though that hardly came as a surprise.

The Reds have though moved quickly to sign two new midfielders in Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai. Brought in for a combined £95m, the pair debuted on Wednesday night in a 4-2 win over Karlsruher.

However, the game was somewhat overshadowed by the news beforehand that Jordan Henderson had been omitted from the line-up. That’s after a fee over his sale to Al-Ettifaq had been agreed. A disappointed Klopp gave his thoughts on the move after the match.

With their long-serving skipper now closing on a move, he’ll be joined in Saudi Arabia by another midfielder in Fabinho. A £40m switch to Al-Ittihad is now on the cards. And his exit will take the list of Reds midfield departures to six.

Clearly Klopp and Co will now have to get busy to strengthen their squad and replace those stars. To that end, a recent report claims Klopp wants to sign three more players from a five-man transfer wishlist.

One of those players is Palace’s reigning Player of the Year, Doucoure.

The Mali international moved to Selhurst Park last summer, costing £18m from Lens.

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Liverpool targets Doucoure and Lavia will not come cheap

In what was one of Patrick Vieira’s best signings, Doucoure has proved a major success at SE25.

Now, though, in the wake of interest from Liverpool, Palace are sticking a prohibitive £70m fee on the 23-year-old’s head, reports the Daily Mail.

That is already £20m more than the Reds initially expected to pay for the midfielder.

However, with Liverpool’s coffers boosted to the tune of £52m by the sales of Henderson and Fabinho, it is unlikely the price will deter them entirely.

To that end, while Liverpool are yet to make an official move, the Mail claims Palace are bracing themselves for an enquiry.

It’s a similar story for Liverpool, who’ve also been left stunned by a similar demand for Romeo Lavia.

The Belgian teenager enjoyed an excellent campaign on a personal level despite Southampton’s relegation.

And with demand for his services high – Arsenal and Chelsea are also keen – they are slapping a £50m fee on his head.

However, the Reds’ need now is more apparent then ever. And knowing Liverpool’s urgency to sign new midfielders, it is unlikely either club will reduce their demands.

As a result, Liverpool will likely have to bite the bullet if they are to land Klopp’s top two targets.

Deals for the pair will cost the Reds a cool £120m combined. On top of the fees for Szoboszlai and Mac Allister, that will take their summer spending soaring to £215m on new midfielders alone.

READ MORE: The 69 midfielders Liverpool have been linked with in the transfer gossip columns: Lavia, Doucoure, Thuram…