Crystal Palace demand £70m for Cheick Doucoure as Liverpool show interest
- Liverpool are considering making an approach for Cheick Doucoure
- But Crystal Palace have placed a £70m valuation on the midfielder
- Jurgen Klopp is attempting to continue his midfield overhaul this summer
Crystal Palace will place a minimum £70million valuation on key midfielder Cheick Doucoure, who is emerging as a target for Liverpool.
Jurgen Klopp has made strengthening his midfield options a priority this summer, with the Merseyside club already adding Alexis MacAllister and Dominic Szoboszlai to their squad.
But the imminent departure of captain Jordan Henderson to Saudi Arabian club Al Ettifaq and the potential exit of Fabinho – also to Saudi – will leave the Reds looking for further midfield reinforcements.
Doucoure, who arrived at Selhurst Park from Lens for £18million last summer, is of concrete interest to Liverpool, who have begun work on calculating the cost of signing the Mali international.
Liverpool are yet to make an approach to Palace, but the south London club are now bracing themselves for an enquiry.
The 23-year-old is aware of Liverpool’s interest, but Palace want to keep Doucoure next season.
However, Mail Sport understands that Palace officials are likely to find it difficult to refuse an offer of between £70m-£80m.
Doucoure has become a key player for the Eagles in his 12 months at the club, and there is a feeling with the right additions the club could push for a minimum top 10 finish next season.
The midfielder is currently central to those plans, but the prospect of making a huge profit on Doucoure after just a season could eventually tempt the Eagles.
Palace have seen Arsenal sign West Ham captain and defensive midfielder Declan Rice for £105m.
Likewise, Brighton value fellow midfielder Moises Caicedo, a target for Chelsea, at £100m.
And there is a belief at Palace that Doucoure is worth at least £70million in the current market.
READ MORE: Report-Chelsea eyeing deal to sign £50m star after huge injury blow
According to The Guardian, Chelsea are weighing up a move for Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi following a serious knee injury for Wesley Fofana.
The London giants confirmed yesterday that Fofana underwent a surgery for an anterior cruciate knee ligament damage. The Frenchman could miss most of next season as a result, and The Guardian claim that Chelsea are considering a new signing to fill the void.
Guehi is one of the names under consideration. The 23-year-old joined Palace from Chelsea for £18 million two years ago, and The Guardian claim that the Eagles would look to make a significant profit if they decide to sell the England international.
Possible transfer
Thiago Silva, Trevoh Chalobah and Levi Colwill are currently the only fit senior centre-backs in the squad, but Benoit Badiashile is anticipated to return from a groin injury in the coming weeks.
Four centre-backs are normally sufficient for any club, but Chelsea may want added assurance. Silva will be 39 in September, and the Brazilian could show signs of regression in the upcoming season.
Guehi would be a top signing for Chelsea, but he is unlikely to come on the cheap as Palace value him at £50 million. The Blues could sign Guehi for £40 million as they already have a 20 per cent sell-on clause.
The 23-year-old has made immense progress since his move to south London in 2021. Last season, he had a top campaign with 50 accurate passes per game, making 3.6 clearances and winning 4.3 duels on average.
He is now a full international with England, and could be tempted to reunite with Chelsea where he spent 12 years. He may not be a guaranteed starter, but could become one in the long-term with Silva heading out.
Chelsea are currently in the United States for five pre-season friendlies starting with Wrexham tonight. They will be hoping to land Guehi as soon as possible such that he can integrate with him in training.
