BBC Pundit Backs £55M Swoop To Sign Giant Replacement For Fabinho

Liverpool have been urged to take their squad to the next level by signing Fulham's Joao Palhinha after the Reds conceded a one-goal lead to lose to Brighton.

On Saturday, Jurgen Klopp watched his side bounce back from yet another early goal after Simon Adingra scored from outside the box in comical fashion.

However, after a first-half brace from Mohamed Salah saw Liverpool take the lead, they squandered it with truly amateurish defending from a dangerous set piece on the edge of the 18-yard area late in the second half.

The 2-2 draw has increased scrutiny on the issues within the Reds' exciting but frustrating squad.

With Alexis Mac Allister struggling against his former side in his new but unfamiliar role at the base of midfield, calls for the club to sign a new no.6 have grown louder.

Robbie Savage urges Liverpool to sign Joao Palhinha on BBC Sport

It's no secret that Klopp wants a new no.6 after trying to sign Moises Caicedo in a dramatic failed bid worth around £110 million.

Talk of a move to sign Fluminense midfielder Andre in January has increased in light of the Brazilian side reaching the final of the Copa Liberatadores.

BBC pundit Robbie Savage, believes the Reds should target a move for the former Sporting Lisbon star.

He almost completed a £55 million move to Bayern Munich in the final days of the summer transfer window before a move fell apart despite completing a medical and taking club photos with the Bavarian outfit.

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live Sport on Sunday, the 48-year-old said: “He’s a very good player. He was going to Bayern and the move fell through. Fantastic player.

“Liverpool have transitioned well in those areas, there is more dynamism in there, Szoboszlai and Mac Allister are good acquisitions, recruitment has been good and I think that has gone under the radar really.

“But I think Palhinha would be a fantastic fit for Liverpool.”

Palhinha at Liverpool would be an exciting prospect

With the 6 foot 3 midfielder at the base of midfield, the Reds would have a truly dominating side - especially with Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate right behind him.

Liverpool are already an imposing side from set-pieces but Palhinha's presence would ensure that they would be able to wreak even more havoc.

The Reds need a replacement for Fabinho and Palhinha fits the bill perfectly. The Portugal international has shown the Premier League that he is one of the best ball winners, making 4.46 tackles per 90. This places him in the 99th percentile.

That's truly elite. The only thing lacking in Klopp's exciting new midfield is a midfielder that can routinely stop dangerous tackles on his own. For all his technical ability, Mac Allister is simply not the player you want stopping Premier League attackers.

It remains to be seen if Liverpool will reignite their plans to sign Palhinha after it was reported by Football Insider that Klopp's side's interest in the Portugal international had "stalled".

What caused the issue is unknown but interest in Andre remains firm and he remains a very possible option in January given Fluminense's season comes to an end before Christmas.