Liverpool move for shock Fabinho successor after Klopp spies £80m star who’ll dominate

Liverpool are prepared to abandon their usual transfer strategy by signing an older player who’ll replace Fabinho immediately, and an £80m-rated Premier League star is in Jurgen Klopp’s sights, per a report.

The Reds could soon see their midfield ranks depleted, with Al Ettifaq and Al Ittihad in talks to sign Jordan Henderson and Fabinho respectively.

Henderson has agreed a three year deal with Steven Gerrard’s Al Ettifaq. Whether the Saudi Arabian side are willing to stump up £10m-£20m – as Liverpool are demanding – remains to be seen.

Fabinho, meanwhile, was left out of Liverpool’s pre-season tour of Germany with an exit more advanced. The Athletic claimed the Reds could receive as much as £40m for the Brazilian.

Despite enduring a down year, Fabinho remained a regular starter last term and would need to be replaced in Klopp’s starting eleven. New recruits Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai are both attack-minded, meaning an out-and-out holding midfielder is required.

The Reds often move for players in their early 20s who they hope will develop and spend the primes of their careers at Anfield.

Mac Allister (24), Szoboszlai (22) are recent examples, while all four of last season’s signings (Calvin Ramsay, Fabio Carvalho, Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo) were aged 23 or under at the time of their arrivals.

Liverpool break from tradition for Joao Palhinha

However, according to the Liverpool Echo, Liverpool are considering breaking away from their usual tactic and moving for an older player who’ll make an instant impact. Per the report, the player in their sights is Fulham’s Joao Palhinha.

The Portugal international was a veritable colossus in Marco Silva’s engine room last season. Palhinha, who recently turned 28, led the league with a mammoth 147 tackles.

Making that number all the more impressive is the fact second-placed Moises Caicedo was a whopping 47 tackles behind (100).

Palhinha would represent an immediate successor to Fabinho and given their respective last seasons, is potentially an upgrade too.

West Ham recently saw a £45m bid for the Portuguese knocked back. David Moyes’ side have cash to splash as well as a gaping hold in midfield after selling Declan Rice to Arsenal.

Both the Guardian and Sky Sports claimed Fulham remarkably value Palhinha at the £80m mark. However, there is a ray of hope for the Reds.

Indeed, the Guardian added there is a belief Fulham’s £80m price tag may be a simple case of posturing. Instead, a bid of around £50m might be enough to seal a deal.

As such, the onus is on either Liverpool or West Ham to test Fulham’s resolve. Palhinha only cost the Cottagers £20m when plucked from Sporting Lisbon last summer.

Other and much younger options for Liverpool include Romeo Lavia, Ryan Gravenberch and Cheick Doucoure, per the Liverpool Echo.

But with Liverpool widening the age profile of potential signings, Palhinha is now a genuine option.

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