New Liverpool sporting director has already tried to sign Lavia alternative

06 August 2023 , 00:04

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New Liverpool sporting director has already tried to sign Lavia alternative

Liverpool could be set to turn to familiar alternatives to Romeo Lavia as their chase of the Southampton midfielder threatens to stall.

Lavia has emerged as the Reds' top target as they look to replace Jordan Henderson and Fabinho, who both departed for the Saudi Pro League. But so far, Southampton have proven unwilling to sanction a sale, rejecting two bids from Liverpool for Lavia.

Sporting director Jörg Schmadtke, who took on his role earlier this summer, may now be forced to examine alternatives. And the German could turn to a player who he has tried to sign before to fill the hole in Jurgen Klopp's midfield.

A recent report from The Athletic named Cheick Doucoure as a player who Liverpool were sizing up. The midfielder enjoyed an impressive season with Crystal Palace last term, his first at Selhurst Park. Palace have slapped a £70million price tag on Doucoure, but curiously they beat Schmadtke to his signature last summer. At the time, Schmadtke was working for Bundesliga side Wolfsburg, with Doucoure at Ligue 1 Lens.

According to Goal France, last April Wolfsburg challenged Palace for Doucoure's signature. Chiefs at the German side were said to have been in contact with the midfielder and his representatives.

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Cheick Doucoure is being monitored by Liverpool (Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images)

Ultimately, Doucoure would end up joining Palace, who had been named as the other frontrunners for him. Now though, he could be on the move again, with Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp desperate to sign a new midfielder. The German has deployed academy product Curtis Jones in the midfield trio in recent friendlies. But the Reds boss has made no secret of the fact that he believes a new recruit is needed.

"In this actual set-up how we have it and how the squad looks, he [Jones] is one of the options, definitely. It's no secret that we are still looking for players joining us. But that's one thing and the other thing is using what you have," he said. "And I think Curtis can absolutely play that position. So, can he play it when nobody else is defending in the team? No, no chance, but then I don't know any player who could play it then.

"But if we really understand the situation how it is in this moment, a proven six is not available in the moment, will we make an excuse of that and say, 'OK, how can we do that?' Then we have a problem because during a season a lot of things can happen, that was always the case. If you see it as a challenge and if you see it as a positive challenge, try to find a way to be compact anyway or even more so and to find a way to deny the opponent, and our world-class opponent tomorrow obviously, if we do that together it's always possible."

Jacob Leeks