PSG join race for Cheick Doucoure as Crystal Palace set mammoth price tag

Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain could be set to lock horns with Liverpool in the race to sign Crystal Palace midfielder Cheick Doucoure.

Standard Sport have claimed that new PSG manager Luis Enrique is looking to add another defensive midfielder to his squad this summer, despite already signing €60m Manuel Ugarte. The Reds, meanwhile, are on the hunt for a replacement for Fabinho, who looks set to join Saudi Pro League club Al-Ittihad for £40m on a three-year deal.

Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister have already joined Liverpool this summer, but the imminent departures of Fabinho and Jordan Henderson — who's move to Steven Gerrard's Al Ettifaq now seems imminent — have intensified Liverpool's need for a full midfield rebuild.

Reports earlier this week claimed Liverpool were looking at Palace's Doucoure. However, according to the Daily Mail, the former Lens man won't come cheap, with Crystal Palace slapping a whopping £70m price tag on their player.

Liverpool are set to recoup around £52m from the sales of Fabinho and Henderson, which could be channeled directly into new signings, but it remains to be seen if they are willing to meet Palace's valuation of the Malian, who was named as their 2022/23 Player of the Season after an impressive debut campaign in England.

The 23-year-old made 35 appearances in all competitions for the Eagles and was a central figure at the club under Patrick Vieira and Roy Hodgson as Palace finished 11th in the Premier League standings.

While Doucoure is on Liverpool's transfer shortlist, the Reds are reportedly keeping tabs on several players as they look to reinforce their engine room. Southampton's Romeo Lavia has been regularly named as one target, with Southampton expecting a fee of around £50m to sell the 19-year-old midfielder.

However, before re-entering the transfer market, Liverpool will look to sort the futures of Fabinho and Henderson as the duo look to seal moves to the Middle East in the coming week.

Luis Diaz has also emerged as a target for Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal, but Liverpool reportedly have no intention of parting ways with the Colombia international.