7 Midfield Options for Liverpool After Losing Caicedo and Lavia to Chelsea

• Chelsea have made Moises Caicedo's British record £115 million transfer official
• The Blues are also set to beat Liverpool to signing on Southampton's Romeo Lavia
• The Reds are now in the market for another midfielder after missing out twice

It is no longer news that Liverpool went to war over the transfers of Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia and lost flat on both, as the Blues secured the services of the defensive midfielders.

The Ecuadorian, Caicedo, came in for a British record fee of £115 million, beating Liverpool's bid of £111mil after Chelsea initially stalled on matching Brighton's asking price of £100mil.

Sports Brief looks at seven defensive midfielders the Reds can turn to, including some they have previously been linked with.

1. Cheick Doucoure

The club have set their sights on Crystal Palace midfielder, Cheick Doucoure, who joined the Eagles last summer. According to Goal, the club will demand £70mil for the player they signed for £20mil. Liverpool can't hide; the world knows they have £111mil to spend now. According to Squawka, he compares favourably to Caicedo.

6 Footballers Who 'Betrayed' Their Club As Barcelona Accuse Dembele of Backstabbing

Football

2. Joao Palhinha

He is the Premier League's best tackler last season with 147, which is also the highest in Europe's top five leagues. Fulham have slapped an asking price of £90mil on him, as reported by Planet Football, when West Ham United asked for him as a replacement for Declan Rice.

3. Andre Trindade

The Brazilian midfielder has been one of the many on Liverpool's radar for months. According to Anfield Watch, the 22-year-old will cost £21.5mil and Fluminese will retain a future 20% sell-on clause for the midfielder. It is also reported that the club are willing to hold on as long as they are in the Copa Libertadores.

4. Florentino Luis

Enzo Fernandez sealed a £106.8mil move to Chelsea in January after excelling at the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Florentino Luis made his success at Benfica possible by providing defensive cover that allowed him to roam. The Portuguese giants have inserted a release clause of €120mil into his contract.

RB Leipzig troll Liverpool for misspelling Szoboszlai's name

Football

5. Khephren Thuram

Another player the club have established contacts with in the past months. He is the son of legendary right-back Lilian Thuram and brother to Inter Milan striker Marcus. He has only two years left on his contract at OGC Nice, and shouldn't cost a fortune.

6. Manu Kone

Kone joined Borussia Monchengladbach in 2021 from Toulouse and has been one of the standout performers. He has been on Liverpool's radar for some time and was also on Chelsea's list - not to fear, they are not in for him.

7. Youssouf Fofana

Liverpool have secured two attack-minded midfielders in Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister and will need a tireless and hard worker to cover defensive ground for them. Monaco midfielder, Fofana, fits this profile and GiveMeSport claimed he will cost £52mil.

Hazard's influence on Lavia's move

Sports Brief also analysed how Eden Hazard helped Chelsea sign Lavia after speaking to his compatriot about the club and life in London, easing his decision to ditch Liverpool.

Hazard was at Stamford Bridge on Sunday for the 1-1 draw between the two sides, while it was speculated that the 19-year-old midfielder had been in London for some time too.