Liverpool monitoring Joao Palhinha as Fulham set price

Liverpool are still monitoring Fulham midfielder Joao Palhinha ahead of next year, Anfield Watch has been told.

Palhinha signed a new contract with Fulham in September after coming very close to joining Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich over the summer window, with the deal collapsing on the final day.

It's our information that one of the reasons for the new contract was the promise of a pay-rise that was agreed in his previous deal.

Talks with Bayern have not moved forward since Deadline Day and that has alerted Liverpool to the 28-year-old's situation.

Anfield Watch was informed during the summer window that Jurgen Klopp had Palhinha on his wish list as Liverpool sought a specialist defensive midfielder, but Fulham ultimately refused to sell to any buyer because they were unable to find a replacement in time.

Though Fulham's vice-chairman has claimed there is no release clause in the new contract, sources say that a fee of around £70m should secure the signing of Palhinha.

Liverpool have already £60m set aside from the summer to spend in January, and could boost their finances for new additions further with the sale of Mohamed Salah, if clubs from the Saudi Pro League make a return –though a mid-season sale of the club's best player is extremely unlikely.

Palhinha is a natural 'number six' who has played 48 games for Fulham, scoring five goals, since his move from Sporting CP in the summer of 2022, and was widely recognised as one of the Premier League's best players last season.

The 28-year-old has also picked up an incredible 17 yellow cards in his time with the Cottagers, without getting sent off once.

After failing to land either Moises Caicedo or Romeo Lavia during the summer, Liverpool have regularly been using Alexis Mac Allister to fulfil the deeper-lying role in midfield, despite also signing a more naturally defensive operator in 30-year-old Wataru Endo.

Anfield Watch has also reported that another player Liverpool were linked with over the summer, Andre Trindade, remains hopeful that the Reds will reignite their interest in him this January as he closes in on Copa Libertadores glory with Fluminense.