Liverpool join race to sign Joao Palhinha

Liverpool are the most interested party in the race to sign Fulham midfielder Joao Palhinha this summer, according to reports.

The Lowdown: Long-standing interest

The Reds have Naby Keita, Arthur Melo, James Milner and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain all out of contract at the end of the season, so reinforcements will definitely be needed in the upcoming window.

The Portuguese colossus made the move to Craven Cottage in July 2022 and has since taken the Premier League by storm, becoming Marco Silva’s top-performing defensive player.

Jurgen Klopp reportedly had the 27-year-old on his radar even before he joined the Whites and it appears that the boss is still keen to bring him to Anfield.

The Latest: Liverpool in pole position for Palhinha

According to The Daily Mail, FSG and Liverpool have emerged as the most ‘serious suitor’ at the front of the queue for Palhinha this summer, with several other vultures also ‘circling’.

The Cottagers are claimed to value their talisman at £60m, treble the £20m they initially paid for him, though they remain ‘confident’ that they will be able to retain his services for at least one more year.

The Verdict: Get it done…

Palhinha has been dubbed an ‘artist’ and ‘sensational’ by journalist Josh Bunting, and Liverpool need to act fast should they want to get this deal over the line ahead of their fellow competitors.

The Fulham star ranks in the 99th percentile for tackles but is also strong in the offensive aspect of his game having netted four goals during his debut season in the capital, offering the mixture of energy, physical prowess and quality on the ball that is sorely lacking in the Reds’ midfield ranks.

The Lisbon native has also previously operated at centre-back, which will be an attractive attribute to Klopp given his side’s consistent defensive injuries.

Standing at 6 foot 2, Palhinha would add a different dimension to the midfield with his height, making him the perfect candidate to put pen to paper on Merseyside.

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