Liverpool have reportedly ended their interest in Fulham midfielder Joao Palhinha.
The Portugal international took the Premier League by storm during his debut campaign last term, making more tackles than any other player in the division.
Palhinha also chipped in with four goals from 41 matches in his debut campaign, helping Marco Silva's side achieve a top-half finish in their first campaign back in the big time.
The former Sporting Lisbon man has recently been struggling with a shoulder injury, but he recovered in time to make a 23-minute cameo in Saturday's defeat to Brentford.
Palhinha's contract at Craven Cottage runs until 2027 with the option of an additional 12 months, but the 28-year-old has inevitably been tipped to move to a European-competing club this summer.
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Liverpool have long been linked with a swoop for Palhinha, but according to Football Insider, the Reds have now walked away from a potential deal due to a couple of factors.
The midfielder's recent injury apparently raised alarm bells within the Anfield boardroom, while Fulham's £90m valuation is also too excessive for the Reds.
Liverpool supposedly feel that Fulham are trying to price Palhinha out of an exit from Craven Cottage, while similar advances from West Ham United were also rebuffed.
The Hammers are rumoured to have failed with a £45m offer for Palhinha, who has also been watched by Chelsea, Manchester United and Bayern Munich, but he is now expected to stay put in West London.
Liverpool searched far and wide for a new number six in the wake of Fabinho's £40m move to Saudi Pro League champions Al-Ittihad, but their efforts to bring Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia to Anfield ended in failure.
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In both instances, Liverpool managed to agree a fee with Brighton & Hove Albion and Southampton, only for Caicedo and Lavia to choose Chelsea, who subsequently outbid the Reds.
Jurgen Klopp's side turned to a cheaper alternative in the shape of Japan international Wataru Endo, who arrived from Stuttgart for approximately £16.2m on Friday.
The 30-year-old received international clearance in time to make his debut in Saturday's 3-1 win over Bournemouth, enjoying a 27-minute run-out after fellow summer signing Alexis Mac Allister was given a straight red card for a challenge on Ryan Christie.
Stefan Bajcetic was also back on the bench this weekend following his troublesome adductor injury, but Liverpool are still said to be in the market for another defensive midfielder before the window slams shut.
Goals from Luis Diaz, Mohamed Salah and Diogo Jota saw the Reds come from a goal down to beat Bournemouth, and their next Premier League game comes away to Newcastle United next Sunday.
Ben Knapton
