According to a report in the Standard, Ligue 1 side PSG are interested in signing Crystal Palace’s Cheick Doucoure who also happens to be a target for Liverpool.
Cheick Doucoure joined Palace in a £26 million plus add-ons deal from Lens last summer and in just one season, he has impressed some of the biggest clubs in Europe. The 23-year-old played in 34 Premier League games for the Eagles and despite being a defensive midfielder, he provided three assists.
The Mali international is a product of the Lens academy and apart from playing as a defensive midfielder, Doucoure can also play in central defence. The Athletic’s claiming that Liverpool are keeping tabs on Cheick Doucoure because they think Crystal Palace will be ready to offload him if the right offer comes in.
Will Liverpool be able to land Cheick Doucoure or will PSG get him?
Doucoure’s contract with Palace expires in 2027 and his current market valuation is £30 million. The Eagles paid more than £26 million for the midfielder so they are going to quote at least £45-50 million for the 23-year-old’s sale.
Paying this amount should not be a problem for Liverpool but PSG’s entry could make things really complex for the EPL team. The midfielder has been in France since 2018 and if a club like PSG come calling, there’s every chance he could want to return to the Ligue 1.
Thankfully, Cheick Doucoure isn’t the only central midfielder that Liverpool are interested in because they are also keeping tabs on Manchester City’s Kalvin Phillips and Southampton’s 19-year-old Romeo Lavia.
Jurgen Klopp is about to lose Fabinho and Jordan Henderson both of whom are heading to the Saudi Pro League and this is the major reason why Liverpool are being linked with so many defensive midfielders.
Cheick Doucoure had a very good season with Crystal Palace last time around but there’s every possibility that these 34 league matches were a flash in the pan. We have seen several big names fail in their second season in England so in our opinion, Liverpool should go after someone like Kalvin Phillips, someone who’s a seasoned EPL pro.
Romeo Lavia is valued at £50 million plus several other Premier League sides want to sign him as well which is why we don’t think Liverpool will want to get into a fierce transfer battle and end up overspending on a 19-year-old.
Doucoure is just one of the options that Liverpool are scouting but if PSG are serious about signing him then the French side will definitely be the favourites.
