Fabinho and Jordan Henderson‘s imminent strikes to Saudi Arabia have seen Liverpool’s want for a defensive midfielder grow to be extremely excessive precedence, and Crystal Palace‘s Cheick Doucoure is on the shortlist.
Liverpool are lower than 4 weeks away from beginning their Premier League season and they’re now on the hunt for a defensive midfielder, a not-so-secret process that can have alerted golf equipment throughout Europe.
The present brief record will not be fairly so brief and This Is Anfield understands Doucoure is into account.
The 23-year-old transfer to Palace final summer time from Lens in a £21 million transfer, and was named their Participant of the Season after 35 video games in his debut season.
So, with discuss rising louder, This Is Anfield obtained the lowdown on the midfielder from academy soccer coach and Crystal Palace season ticket holder, David Matthews (@DavidMatthews6).
Firstly, what are you able to inform us about Doucoure?
He performs a really unglamorous function, however it’s arguably a very powerful and he’s very efficient.
He had a spell throughout the season the place he grew to become a little bit of a legal responsibility out of possession and saved getting playing cards, however I don’t know if that was extra all the way down to having an excessive amount of to do – we have been actually taking part in him in midfield [on his own] and he didn’t actually have somebody alongside him that might assist.
However when Roy [Hodgson] got here again he appeared again to the extent he was initially of the season.
What are his strengths?
He’s an excellent all-round midfielder, out of possession he’s very efficient, breaks up the play properly, and is powerful within the deal with.
In possession, he’s good and cozy on the ball. He can progress it properly too.
He performed extra defensive midfield for us final yr. He sat in entrance of Joachim Anderson and Marc Guehi. In our construct up, we’d look to get him on the ball and assist progress it forwards.
He’s an excellent participant. I feel he most likely goes a bit unnoticed as a result of he was taking part in for us, and it was his first yr within the league.
Does he have any clear weaknesses and areas to enhance?
The one factor he most likely lacks is he doesn’t rating objectives, I don’t assume he scored a aim for us final yr. He’d have the odd shot right here and there however he doesn’t get within the field, however that’s not likely his function.
He did battle within the first half of the yr getting via video games for 90 minutes, the tempo of the Premier League took some time for him to get used to.
In the direction of the tip of the yr, he was capable of get via video games much more comfortably.
Who does he play like or remind you of?
When it comes to breaking apart play and studying of the sport, Idrissa Gueye or Yves Bissouma.
I’d nearly say N’Golo Kante, however I’m undecided he has the the legs Kante had in his prime.
Will Palace promote? If that’s the case, what charge would Liverpool be taking a look at?
I don’t assume you’ll get him for £35 million, I do know that’s the worth mooted round however I’d be amazed if we settle for anyplace close to that (except he has a launch clause we don’t find out about).
[Editor’s note: It’s since been reported that Palace want between £70m and £80m!!]
He value us £20-25 million and I’ll think about we’ll be seeking to double our funding.
Something £50m or under, I don’t even assume we’d take into account as a result of it might go away an enormous gap in our midfield that’d we’d have to fill.
We haven’t really obtained many centre midfielders in the intervening time, we misplaced James McArthur, Luka Milivojevic has gone and we solely actually have Doucoure and Jefferson Lerma who’re pure centre midfielders.
Is he a signing Liverpool needs to be making?
Will he be a superb signing? Sure. Do I feel it should occur? Truthfully, no.
I can’t think about Liverpool are going to splash £50-60m on a centre midfielder who hasn’t ever performed in Europe, it might be a giant sum of cash to place down for him.
I do know Liverpool want a centre midfielder who suits that invoice, so perhaps they might.
