Liverpool have been linked with a move for Fulham midfielder Joao Palhinha recently, and a new update has shed further light on the situation.
The Reds’ winning run in the Premier League was halted on Sunday afternoon, as a below-par performance led to a 0-0 draw at home to Manchester United.
Barring a fast start, Liverpool never felt at the races at Anfield, on a day when their rivals felt there for the taking, and it means they failed to reach top spot in the table.
It was a poor day for Jurgen Klopp’s midfield, with Wataru Endo limited in the No.6 role, and both Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch way short of top form, and it could lead to further talk of making new signings in January.
One player who has emerged as a reported target for Liverpool in recent weeks is Palhinha, who continues to excel for Fulham, making more tackles (76) than any other Premier League player so far this season.
According to a new claim from Football Insider, however, the Reds are not expected to make a move for the Portuguese in the winter transfer window:
“Liverpool are unlikely to swoop for Fulham star Joao Palhinha in the January transfer window, sources have told Football Insider. The Reds, alongside Premier League title rivals Arsenal, have been widely linked with a potential move for the Portugal international.
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“A well-placed source has told Football Insider that Fulham star Palhinha is not a “top priority” for Jurgen Klopp and his recruitment staff at this time.”
Our thoughts on Liverpool not signing Palhinha…
Palhinha is a brilliant player for Fulham, with his aforementioned tackling ability summing up his dominant nature for the west Londoners, but not signing him is a sensible decision by Liverpool.
The 24-cap Portugal international is now 28 years of age, and considering the big money the Reds will likely need to pay to snap him up, he wouldn’t represent a sensible long-term signing.
Klopp is not one to panic buy, and while the midfield flattered to deceive against United, Alexis Mac Allister was a big miss and those who did play will likely improve in the months ahead.
Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliott are also strong options, and given the money spent on the midfield rebuild in the summer, it is hard to see Liverpool splashing the cash on someone whose best days may not last a huge amount longer.
Instead, it has to be a case of getting the likes of Szoboszlai and Gravenberch back in form – the latter could be out for a while with a hamstring injury – and trusting the options already in the squad.
