FABIO CARVALHO DECISION OBVIOUS FOR LIVERPOOL AFTER REJECTED TRANSFER BID
What the future holds for Fabio Carvalho remains to be seen.
Linked with an exit from Liverpool, with the Reds already turning down one offer from an unnamed club, the Portuguese midfielder is held in high regard by many despite a lack of opportunities this season. The ECHO understands Liverpool have been contacted by a number of potential suitors from both home and abroad with Jurgen Klopp last week admitting Carvalho could leave on loan in the summer transfer window.
Liverpool insist they have no desire to lose Carvalho on a permanent deal this summer, with major figures within the club beyond the manager of the view the Fulham academy graduate still has a part to play.
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Featuring in each of the Reds' first seven Premier League matches of the campaign, first-team minutes dried up for last year's summer signing after the World Cup. Assessing what could be the next best step for both club and player, one of the ECHO's regular Liverpool jury members has suggested a loan move could represent the best approach.
James Noble (@james_noble98): As we know, so much can change within a football season. That appears to have been demonstrated by Liverpool collectively and Fábio Carvalho on a personal level this term. Following a largely promising start, the Portugal under-21 international has seen his minutes drop considerably since the turn of the year.
Some reports in recent weeks have suggested that he has already been informed that he won’t be part of Jürgen Klopp’s first-team plans in 2023/24. Klopp himself has stated that “there is a chance” of him leaving on loan, while both the German boss and James Milner have recently praised his attitude, despite the challenging circumstances.
After largely operating as a ‘Number 10’ at Fulham, there is arguably still a discussion to be had over what his best long-term position will be. With Liverpool’s two ‘Number 8s’ operating further forwards since the spring tactical tweak, it could be said that one of those roles would suit Carvalho, given the areas it would allow him to operate in.
The lack of minutes since the aforementioned shift suggests otherwise, though. It may be that the 20-year-old’s relatively diminutive stature hasn’t helped him in that regard, given the defensive work that is still required out of possession as part of a midfield-three.
It is a tricky one and it certainly feels like Carvalho can be seen as unlucky given the way things have unfolded. Although our Europa League participation next season may offer a route to more regular minutes, at this stage, a loan may indeed be the best option for all parties. It would allow him to continue his development – likely in a more prominent role – while not closing the door on a role at Anfield. As recent times have shown, plenty can change over the course of a campaign.
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