Liverpool ‘battle’ PL rivals for £30m ‘Caicedo replacement’ as Klopp’s midfielder shortlist emerges

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·16 August 2023

Liverpool ‘battle’ PL rivals for £30m ‘Caicedo replacement’ as Klopp’s midfielder shortlist emerges

Carlos Baleba in action for Lille.

According to reports, Liverpool have joined Brighton and Hove Albion in the race to sign Carlos Baleba from Ligue Un outfit Lille.

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Liverpool have endured a difficult few days as they have missed out on Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia, who are heading to Chelsea for a potential combined fee of £175m.

The Reds are now in desperation mode as they need to sign at least one more midfielder before the summer transfer window closes.

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They are bound to be linked with several potential targets in the coming weeks and TEAMtalk are reporting that ‘Liverpool are ready to jump on Brighton’s pursuit of Carlos Baleba as their Moises Caicedo replacement’ and ‘battle’ their rivals for the midfielder.

Aston Villa, Brentford, Nottingham Forest and Newcastle United are also ‘keeping tabs’ on the centre-midfielder, who is valued at £30m by Lille.

Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano revealed on Tuesday morning that Brighton’s ‘opening bid for Baleba’ was worth around £17m. This was ‘not enough to convince’ Lille into a sale but ‘negotiations will continue’ as the 19-year-old is viewed as the ‘perfect Caicedo replacement’.

The Daily Mail meanwhile are reporting that ‘Liverpool face a race against time to land much-needed reinforcements in midfield with Fulham’s Joao Palhinha and Crystal Palace youngster Cheick Doucoure among the favoured options’.

They are of the understanding that ‘as many as six targets are being considered’. The report explains.

‘Fulham’s combative midfielder Palhinha, who led the league for successful tackles last term, is believed to be the most admired of the options. However, the club is unsure whether to stump up the £60million-plus it would take to pry the 28-year-old away from Craven Cottage. ‘Palace youngster Doucoure, who only joined the side from Ligue 1 outfit Lens last summer, is another player who is being considered. Liverpool had been linked with the 23-year-old earlier on in the window but were met with a £70m valuation from the Eagles.’ ‘Fiorentina’s Sofyan Amrabat, who is a target of Manchester United, and Kalvin Phillips of Manchester City were two names who had been ruled out prior to recent events. But they too are believed to be under consideration in the club’s current predicament. ‘During Liverpool’s back and forth with Southampton over Lavia, the club were reportedly taking a look at Andre as alternative. But the 22-year-old’s role in a Fluminese side that has reached the quarter-finals of the Copa Libertadores has ‘reinforced’ the Brazilian outfit’s unwillingness to sell in this window. ‘Finally, Nice’s Khephren Thuram is yet another player who is now being reconsidered. Interest in the 22-year-old cooled after being heavily linked with a move to Anfield earlier this summer.’