Liverpool can only sign Cheick Doucoure from Crystal Palace if they submit an enormous offer.
The Reds have been linked with a move for Doucoure for most of the last month. However, with just eight days left of the transfer window, nothing has materialised.
And according to journalist Fabrizio Romano, it won’t, unless Liverpool are willing to pay a mammoth fee.
“Eze at Crystal Palace is also super appreciated,” Romano says on Manchester City’s interest in Eberechi Eze in his Daily Briefing today, “But they have the feeling that Palace don’t want to lose important players and only a crazy bid will change the situation.
“It’s a similar situation with Cheick Doucoure and Liverpool – the situation has always been the same. Liverpool asked for deal conditions last week, let’s see if they will decide to bid or not, but Crystal Palace want to keep Doucoure, he’s a key player for them so it could only happen in case of huge bid.”
Liverpool priced out of Doucoure move
By now, it would feel likely that Liverpool are not going to move forward with interest in Doucoure.
As Romano mentions, they’re already fully aware of the conditions that Palace may impose. With time ticking down until deadline day, the Malian isn’t getting any cheaper.
So, unless they’re still deliberating internally, it seems safe to assume that the Reds won’t be signing Doucoure any time soon.
That will come as a big disappointment to some. A clamour has grown on social media over recent weeks to see the 23-year-old at Anfield.
But in reality, Palace’s supposed £70-80m asking price is far too much.
Doucoure is a fine player and one who would certainly be useful to Liverpool right now. But he’s also outside of that bracket of players who you’d happily drop that kind of money on.
For Liverpool, that pool of players is much smaller than for some of their Premier League rivals. They could still surprise us of course, but we can’t see this happening now.
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