Liverpool are stepping up their efforts to sign Crystal Palace midfielder Cheick Doucoure.
Jurgen Klopp has insisted on a number six to bolster his squad after missing out on Moises Caicedo to Chelsea, with Romeo Lavia set to follow the Ecuadorian to Stamford Bridge.
The Anfield club have had to search for alternative options, with Doucoure likely to be cheaper than both previous targets.
Doucoure’s final price could come in at under £60 million, although Palace are wary of losing too many players this summer.
The Malian midfielder is understood to be keen to move to Anfield, and personal terms would not be an issue.
Liverpool are also looking at Fulham’s Joao Paulinha and Nice’s Khephren Thuram but the 23-year-old Doucoure is seen as a more viable option to do right now.
Klopp is keen to “reload” in the coming weeks as the Reds revamp their squad and starting options.
The German said: “We don’t have to always say ‘Milner would have said that and Henderson would have said that and Firmino would have smiled here.’ We should not do it like that. That makes no sense.
“We have this kind of new start with this Liverpool reloaded, it’s an exciting thing. Everybody was asking for changes, rightly so, because we were together for a long time.
“It’s a new chance for everybody, everybody has to step up. We all share responsibility and it’s not that we should give ourselves too much time to grow into it, let’s do it.
“Let’s take the responsibility and go from there and don’t try to be like somebody. Be the best version of yourself and then you have a good chance to help the team in the best possible way.”
