Liverpool eye Premier League star to replace Henderson and Fabinho

Suraj Radia

• Updated: 19 Jul 2023 22:52 BST
• 2 min read

Liverpool could target Crystal Palace midfielder Cheick Doucoure as they look to restructure their midfield following the impending exits of Jordan Henderson and Fabinho.

Both Reds stars are set to complete moves to Saudi Arabia, with Henderson having agreed to become Steven Gerrard’s first signing at Al-Ettifaq while Fabinho will join Al-Ittihad.

The sales should raise more than £50 million combined for Liverpool and would leave a gap in their midfield, which has already seen Naby Keita, James Milner and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain leave, while Fabio Carvalho has joined RB Leipzig on loan.

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Liverpool have brought in Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai to add to their squad but the departures of Henderson and Fabinho has left the need for a more defensive-minded acquisition, with Doucoure touted by The Athletic as a potential option.

Doucoure only joined Palace last year for £26m and won the club’s player of the year award, although the London side would likely demand a significant fee to sell the 23-year-old.

Reports have suggested that Palace could look to Southampton’s £50m valuation of Romeo Lavia as a benchmark, with Liverpool also eyeing the teenager as an option.

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Liverpool had initially considered moving to strengthen in defence before the Saudi interest in their midfield duo, which has caused a rethink to their transfer plans.

A deal in principle has been struck for Henderson of around £12m while Fabinho is set to cost Al-Ittihad £40m, which would raise the funds for a player like Lavia, whom Liverpool have been pursuing heavily.

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Kalvin Phillips, Sofyan Amrabat and Ryan Gravenberch are also thought to be on Jurgen Klopp’s shortlist, meaning a move for Doucoure would likely only progress if it was deemed more affordable than other targets.

Lavia is thought to be Liverpool’s ideal target but the departure of both Fabinho and Henderson could see the focus switch to signing two players instead of one.