Club now aware Liverpool want to sign their player of the season off them

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Crystal Palace are aware of Liverpool’s interest in signing midfielder Cheick Doucoure this summer.

The Reds have been linked with a move for Doucoure over the past couple of days, after the Malian’s excellent debut season in the Premier League.

Interest could potentially escalate quickly, with Liverpool looking to beef up their midfield. And according to 90min, Palace have now caught wind of their admiration for Doucoure.

The Reds reportedly aren’t the only ones keen on the 23-year-old, though. It’s claimed that Atletico Madrid and PSG are hot on his trail too, and have both already spoken with Doucoure’s agents.

But this has seemingly only strengthened Palace’s desire to keep him. After learning about Liverpool’s interest, the South Londoners will reportedly demand big money if they are to lose their Player of the Year.

After figures of £70m and £80m were mooted yesterday, 90min assert that it will cost ‘at least’ £65m to sign Doucoure this summer.

Palace put big price on Doucoure

Although Liverpool moving Fabinho and Jordan Henderson along could be a good thing, things might now get tricky for them.

They badly need to bring in at least one more midfielder. Given they’ll have technically lost five from that area of the pitch since last season and brought in only two, they probably need two more.

But good luck finding the right player for any kind of value this summer. Following Declan Rice’s inflated move to Arsenal, clubs now feel emboldened to basically charge top sides whatever they want.

That’s fine, they’re well within their rights to do so. It is frustrating, though.

Because although a fine player he may be, it seems impossible that Doucoure could be priced in the £65-80m bracket. Then again, if Brighton want £100m for another player with a single season of Premier League experience, Moises Caicedo, then why not?

In that landscape, the notoriously savvy Liverpool are going to find it difficult. They can’t afford to do nothing and yet any player worth having is going to cost them big. Something has to give.

If Palace are reacting though, it does suggest that a move for Doucoure may be possible and could be concrete. With a little Jorg Schmadtke magic, maybe Liverpool can bring the price down to something more palatable.