Man Utd ‘step up interest’ in £60m star as Liverpool face fight for Bellingham alternative

Manchester United are reportedly ‘stepping up their interest’ in Fulham star Joao Palhinha, who has also been linked with Liverpool as an alternative to Jude Bellingham.

Fulham, who have been flying this season, don’t want to lose Palhinha, and The Sun claim they’ve slapped a £60m price tag on his head despite landing him for just £17m in the summer.

This term, Palhinha has an impressive pass success rate of 82.6% and makes an average of 4 tackles per game – one of the highest for his position in the division, and his performances have caught the eye of some of the big boys.

Erik ten Hag is looking for midfield reinforcements in the summer, but given reports suggest United will have to sell to buy, and their need for a striker, Fulham’s valuation may put them off.

Liverpool are perhaps a more likely suitor given their desperate need for midfield additions, and are now forced to spread the net having walked away from negotiations with Jude Bellingham.

Asked about Liverpool’s pursuit of Bellingham ahead of their clash with Leeds on Monday, Klopp likened it to a five-year-old asking for a sports car for Christmas.

“There’s nothing to say about it, to be honest,” . “If we don’t speak about players we are signing or not signing, why would we speak about this speculation?

“It’s not about Jude Bellingham. I never understood why we constantly talk about things we theoretically cannot have. We cannot have six players in the summer, every player being £100m.

“You have to realise what you can do and then you have to work with it. It’s about what you can do, and you work with that.

“You have to work with what you have. You wouldn’t say as a five-year-old at Christmas you want a Ferrari.

“Whatever we need and want we try absolutely everything to get it but there are moments when you have to accept it’s not possible and step aside and do different stuff.”