West Ham is set to battle Liverpool for Fulham star Joao Palhinha as they look for a replacement for Arsenal-bound Declan Rice, The Sun reports.
The Hammers have assured Rice he could leave and are in talks with Arsenal to sell him in a deal worth around £100 million before this transfer window closes.
They have to replace the former Chelsea trainee and have now identified Palhinha as the perfect target for him after the Portugal star shone for the Cottagers in the last campaign.
He was one of the finest midfielders in the country, which made Liverpool show an interest in his signature, knowing they could get their hands on one of the best in the division.
The Reds want to rebuild their midfield and consider Palhinha as one player that will certainly make it stronger if they succeed in adding him to it for the right price.
However, the interest from West Ham is serious and Fulham is more than happy for him to be auctioned off, as they eye making around £50 million from his departure.
Liverpool has the money to pay, but they have other midfield targets whom they can add to their squad, so he might move to West Ham instead.
