Liverpool are surprisingly eyeing a move for Fulham’s robust midfield engine Joao Palhinha, and could swoop for the ace in 2023 after consistently eye-catching displays for the flourishing London outfit…
What’s the word?
According to a report from GIVEMESPORT’s Dean Jones, the Reds have been ‘keeping an eye’ on Fulham’s Portuguese midfielder, who has captivated supporters with his work in re-establishing the club as a solid Premier League force after promotion from the EFL Championship last year.
Having penned a deal with the Cottagers for £17m last summer, the industrious gem has arguably been one of the division’s signings of the summer, having started 17 of the 18 league matches and threading the defensive and offensive departments together, integral in the club’s laudable seventh place position after 18 matches.
While Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has been linked with a multitude of high-profile central targets due to the Merseyside outfit’s languishing status in the English top-flight, the prospective acquisition of the 27-year-old Palhinha could prove to be a shrewd move indeed in instilling composure and a robust presence to charge down enemy attacks.
Henderson heir
Having failed to secure top-flight status on their past two terms in the Premier League, the pieces have fallen into place this time around and the west London club are set to not only secure their status in the division, but challenge for a coveted spot in the top seven: European qualification.
It is no mere coincidence that Palhinha’s arrival at Craven Cottage runs parallel with the fantastic form of late, with his all-encompassing and tenacious work in the centre of the park providing the likes of Alexander Mitrovic to flourish in the talismanic role, while also anchoring the ship in front of the defensive bedrock and easing the workload.
Having made 18 appearances for the Whites across all competitions, scoring three goals the former Sporting Lisbon brute has succeeded in grasping his opportunity in the Premier League and earning acclaim for his dogged work, with Sofascore ranking his average divisional rating at 7.16 – the highest of any midfielder in the side.
Incredibly, he has made 4.7 tackles per outing, illuminating his diamond addition to the team; with the rate of sweeping success he is having, it is no wonder that his team is flourishing.
Liverpool supporters can only lick their lips at the prospect of having such a tireless presence in their midst, with the current crop of Anfield players looking limp and lifeless, failing to emulate the intensity levels that have gone so commendably in tandem with Klopp’s Merseyside tenure.
Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson has long been the industrious and diligent presence in the centre of the Liverpool squad, but with his age creeping toward the twilight period of a professional Premier League footballer, and his average league rating of 6.92 the first time he has dropped below the 7.0 mark for three campaigns,
Hailed as an “engine” by Statman Dave, Liverpool must move with swift conviction to clinch the signature of the 18-cap phenom; Henderson is now 32-years-old, and Palhinha can take the baton, breathing vibrant life into the ambitious squad once more.