17 August 2023 , 13:34
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Liverpool are still interested in signing Crystal Palace midfielder Cheick Doucoure - despite closing in on the £15.4million transfer of Stuttgart captain Wataru Endo.
The Reds are expected to announce the signing of Endo, 30, in the coming days. The Japan international emerged as a shock transfer target for Jurgen Klopp's side after Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia both rejected a move to Anfield in favour of joining Chelsea.
Liverpool need to bring in two midfielders - Endo and a younger player - before the transfer window closes. That is because they have lost five midfielders this summer in James Milner, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Naby Keita, Fabinho and Jordan Henderson.
Klopp has already signed Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai from Brighton and RB Leipzig respectively but saw his plans derailed after Fabinho and Henderson quit the Merseyside club. Both players accepted lucrative deals from Saudi clubs.
As reported by the Evening Standard, Palace will struggle to avoid Liverpool's interest in Doucoure, 23, before the transfer window closes on September 1. It's believed the Reds have been interested in the Mali international since around the start of 2023.
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Doucoure joined Palace from Lens a year ago and enjoyed a brilliant first campaign, making 34 Premier League appearances. Only Declan Rice made more interceptions in the division than Doucoure, who is Palace's reigning Player of the Year, last season.
Paris Saint-Germain are also thought to be interested in Doucoure, but Liverpool are the favourites to sign him. The Eagles are expected to slap a £70m tag on their prized asset, despite spending just £21m on him last summer.
Wataru Endo is heading to Liverpool (Getty Images)Who do you think Liverpool should sign this summer? Let us know in the comments below!
Palace will try to resist Liverpool's offer for Doucoure after losing Wilfried Zaha to Galatasaray on a free transfer earlier this summer. Yet Michael Olise is staying at Selhurst Park after rejecting a £35m move to Chelsea.
Liverpool are also interested in Fulham midfielder Joao Palhinha, 28, and Nice's Khephren Thuram, 22. They aren't expected to move for Borussia Monchengladbach's Manu Kone, 22, after he suffered a knee injury while playing for France at the U21 Euros.
As for Endo, the experienced star will be complete a shock move to Merseyside after being spotted by Liverpool's sporting director Jorg Schmadtke. Endo, who has previously played for Belgian side Sint-Truiden, is Japan's captain and has won 50 senior caps.
"As a player and as a person, he's simply incredibly valuable," Stuttgart's ex-director Sven Mislintat has said. "He's one of these anchors, a focal point in our system. Whether he plays as a centre-back or as a defensive midfielder, it's good that he's there and performs."