Football transfer rumours: Alisson to Al-Nassr? Doku to Manchester City?

Today’s tittle-tattle is watching the clock

Have you seen the price of defensive midfielders these days? Liverpool’s failed pursuit of Moisés Caicedo and Roméo Lavia has been well documented, but it seems all is not lost for this transfer window’s official crisis club. Jürgen Klopp has turned his sights on Fulham’s João Palhinha – and/or Cheick Doucouré of Crystal Palace – to shore up the new Fabinho-shaped hole in front of his centre-backs.The Mail reports that Sofyan Amrabat of Fiorentina, André of Fluminense, and Nice’s Khephren Thuram are also potential options. Jacob Steinberg has written that Lavia plumped for Chelsea having felt he was Liverpool’s second choice, so you might wonder what any of those players feel about being fourth, fifth or even sixth choice.

Alisson Becker, meanwhile, is the latest Liverpool player to be linked with a Saudi Pro League outfit: Al-Nassr are said to be keen on the Brazilian goalkeeper. A report in Qatar suggests that Mohamed Salah has ‘given the green light’ to an unnamed Saudi club to negotiate with the Reds over what would doubtless be an unfeasibly large transfer fee. Salah’s agent recently emphasised his player’s commitment to Liverpool but as Jonathan Liew wrote of the Mason Greenwood saga, perhaps it’s the market that will decide.