Mauricio Pochettino, the manager of Chelsea, was prevented from obstructing a fourth Liverpool agreement.

Chelsea may have done Liverpool a big favor.

Chelsea may have diverted Liverpool’s moves for Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia in defensive midfield, but the Blues could have given Jürgen Klopp’s side a hand in chasing down Crystal Palace’s Cheick Doucoure. The Eagles don’t want to lose too many key players this summer, but having signed Michael Olise to another lucrative deal following a turbulent negotiation process with Chelsea, they may be forced to sell Doucoure for a reasonable price to recoup cash.

Olise looked all but ready to join Chelsea after agreeing personal terms earlier this month and triggering the winger’s £35m release clause. However, Palace stepped in and re-signed Olise to a new four-year contract worth £100,000 a week, more than double the £45,000 a week salary he earned under his previous contract. The Eagles are said to be furious at the way the Blues have handled matters and are considering taking their rivals to court over an “illegal approach”. It is thought that the threat of legal action may have forced Chelsea to withdraw from the deal.

“It’s the best possible news we could have. I was worried – it’s always worrying when a club of Chelsea’s stature shows interest in a player and people will suggest that moving to them might be the best solution,” said manager Roy Hodgson .

“I always hoped it wouldn’t be like this and that Michael realizes that the future for him here at such a young age is very bright and that we can help him move to another level very quickly. “I am delighted for the club and have to congratulate Steve Parish and Dougie Freedman on the fantastic job they have done in convincing them that, even if there was pressure from outside, this is your place and this is where we think you will progress the way right and you will develop in the right way.’”

While they have managed to keep Olise, the same cannot be said for Doucoure, who tops Liverpool’s shortlist. Liverpool are reportedly preparing a bid for the 23-year-old and will have no problem meeting Palace’s £60m valuation of the player who showed the hand of him in their dazzling pursuit of Caicedo.

The Eagles understand Liverpool’s interest in the Mali international is genuine, but have yet to receive an official offer from the Merseyside side. The Crystal Palace is open to the sale of the Doucoure, but only at the right price.

Liverpool need a new defender in the center of the park following the exits of Fabinho, Jordan Henderson and James Milner this summer. The Reds recently brought in Wataru Endo from Stuttgart for £16m to fill the void, but are also looking for another defensive midfielder to add even more depth to the position.

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Liverpool ‘won’t use money as excuse’ – despite influence of Chelsea and Saudi Arabian transfer

Jurgen Klopp has insisted Liverpool will not use the money as an “excuse” in the transfer window, despite growing influence and cash flow from Chelsea and Saudi Arabia.

The big stories this week centered on Liverpool’s defeat to Chelsea in deals for Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia, who have both opted to join the London club.

The Reds have responded by signing Wataru Endo, but this has only fueled the fire in many quarters when it comes to the club’s appeal, something Klopp has rejected.

Klopp often provides glowing answers to questions at his press conferences and Friday was no different after being asked if the club is having trouble signing players this summer.

“I’m not sure if it has anything to do with Liverpool, to be honest. More difficult to dress? No,” Klopp insisted.

“Everything is more difficult, everything. There are reasons, you all know them. You’ve probably written about this before, these stories aren’t what I have to say about them. “But it’s really difficult, there are a lot of things that have changed since last year.”

Alluding to Chelsea’s never-ending transfer cases, Klopp continued: “Some clubs do it differently and nobody understands 100 per cent how it works.”

“As a normal club it’s really difficult to follow them. We just watch what they do and that’s fine, not my problem. I don’t blame anyone for what it is.”

Klopp also cited Saudi Arabia’s growing power to throw “infinite sums of money” at players making life “more difficult”, but that played no part in convincing a target to move to Anfield.

“Also, Saudi Arabia is not making it easy. Our window ends on August 31st [note: it’s September 1st] and their window is still open, so for players who aren’t happy, they will come back.

“It’s okay if there’s another league that’s growing, it’s football, that’s fine. We don’t have the right to say it’s not allowed, China has tried, the United States could still try. No problem.

“But infinite money creates problems, that’s how it is. We sit here and [think] ‘what can we do now’. It would be nice if someone could come up with a solution, some rules – I don’t know.

“Yes, it has become more difficult, but not to convince players to go to Liverpool,” he continued.

“One hundred percent, if you called a million players, they would come right away. We just have to make sure you pick the right one, our timing is different from others. “We can’t just spend and watch later, that’s the way things are.
It is good.

“I’m here and I’m very happy with the transfer window right now, our transfer window.

“I know what happened last week, I know what football fans are like and I know they would rather bring in a £110m or £150m player, and your club can do it.

“This is quite nice, but in the end the pitch is the same size, the player doesn’t grow with the money he costs, it’s quite the opposite. “I’m really happy for the moment. We keep looking, we keep looking.

“We will do everything we can to make the best decisions for this club and we won’t use a second of money or anything as an excuse. We just do it with everything we have. That’s the idea. “We do it our way, we are here and we are ready to fight.”