Liverpool have reportedly identified Cheick Doucoure as a potential Jordan Henderson replacement but Crystal Palace want a huge fee.
Henderson is on the verge of moving to Saudi Arabia after a £12million deal was struck with Al Ettifaq, who are managed by former Reds teammate Steven Gerrard.
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And with Fabinho set to depart for Al Ittihad as well, it has left Liverpool with a midfield problem.
Jurgen Klopp is keen on overhauling his midfield this summer and is said to have identified Crystal Palace star Doucoure as an ideal target.
But according to the Daily Mail, the Eagles are demanding at least £70million for his services while Paris Saint-Germain are also interested.
Palace know that Liverpool are in a sticky situation having already seen Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and James Milner depart Anfield.
While Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai have arrived, Klopp is in desperate need of more defensive-minded midfielders.
Liverpool are yet to make an enquiry for Doucoure but Palace are bracing themselves for an approach in the coming weeks.
They do not want to lose the 23-year-old, who joined just last summer from Lens for £18m.
But in 12 months, the Mali international has become a key component of the midfield at Selhurst Park while the club want to push for a top ten position in the Premier League next season.
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By pricing him at £70m, they hope to dissuade Liverpool from making an approach while they have seen other midfielders make extravagant moves this summer.
Declan Rice signed for Arsenal for £105m while Moises Caicedo has been valued as high as £100m. Liverpool are also interested in the Brighton star along with Chelsea.
Nevertheless, should an offer of £70m arrive, Palace will be tempted to cash in on the midfielder and make a mammoth profit on him.
Doucoure is aware of Liverpool’s interest but it remains to be seen whether the player will push for a move or not.
The Reds could be in a difficult situation by the time the Premier League resumes next month, with an almost complete overhaul of the midfield.
Fabinho and Henderson might not have had their best seasons last year but they still made up a major part of the squad, one that won the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup in recent seasons.
Their impending departures will leave Thiago Alcantara, Curtis Jones, Harvey Elliott and Stefan Bajcetic as the only midfielders from last season.
As well as Doucoure and Caicedo, Liverpool have also been linked with Manu Kone, Romeo Lavia and Sofyan Amrabat.
