Fulham star João Palhinha is ‘still part of the options’ that Liverpool are looking at in their search for a new defensive midfielder.
That’s according to journalist Sacha Tavolieri, who says the Portuguese midfielder is on the Reds list after they missed out on Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia.
Liverpool are in desperate need of a new defensive midfielder this summer after selling Fabinho and Jordan Henderson to Saudi Arabia.
It’s left Jurgen Klopp’s squad short of a specialist player in that position and their attempts to solve the issue have so far fallen short, with Chelsea beating them to the signings of Caicedo and Lavia this week.
The Reds are still scouring the market for alternatives and Fulham star Palhinha is one of the names on the list according to Tavolieri.
He was the undisputed star of the show for Fulham last season following a star of the show for Fulham last season following a €20m move from Sporting Club de Portugal.
They’re keen to keep hold of him if they can and have resisted all potential interest in him this summer as a result, protected by a contract that runs until 2027.
That’s a stance they’ll likely maintain should Liverpool come forward, although the Reds have money to spend to test that resolve, as showed by their willingness to spend big to get Caicedo from Brighton.
A bid hasn’t arrived from Anfield as yet but their need for a defensive midfielder is there and it means Palhinha is a name to keep an eye on in the last two weeks of the transfer window.
🔴🇵🇹 João Palhinha still part of the options in the midfield for #LiverpoolFC. #LFC https://t.co/szaBVyoWdX
— Sacha Tavolieri (@sachatavolieri) August 16, 2023
