Liverpool have turned down an offer from Southampton for promising young midfielder Fabio Carvalho.
The bid, reportedly worth £15 million, was deemed insufficient by the Reds, who are holding out for a higher offer.
Carvalho joined Liverpool in 2022 from Fulham for £5 million plus add-ons, arriving with a high reputation. However, his debut season at Anfield saw limited playing time, with the midfielder making only 13 Premier League appearances, starting just four, and scoring two goals.
In the following summer, Carvalho was sent on loan. He initially joined RB Leipzig but struggled for game time, making only nine appearances.
His fortunes improved with a subsequent loan to Hull City, where he made a significant impact, scoring nine goals and providing two assists in 20 appearances.
Despite a lacklustre start to his Liverpool career under Jürgen Klopp, Carvalho’s prospects appear brighter under new manager Arne Slot.
He has been a standout performer in pre-season, scoring against Arsenal in a 2-1 victory and following up with a spectacular goal against Manchester United.
His recent performances have caught the attention of several clubs including Southampton.
Southampton manager Russell Martin has openly expressed interest in signing Carvalho. However, Liverpool remain firm on their stance.
According to David Ornstein of The Athletic, the £15 million bid from Southampton was rejected, with Liverpool not willing to entertain another loan move and expecting a higher offer for a permanent transfer.
? EXCL: Liverpool reject offer worth up to £15m from Southampton to sign Fabio Carvalho. #LFC unwilling to sanction another loan + permanent bids will need to be significantly higher than #SaintsFC proposal. 21yo wants to be regular starter @TheAthleticFC https://t.co/DfnzRjksbc
— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) August 4, 2024
While Carvalho has been a key player in pre-season, the competition for regular playing time will intensify with the returns of Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez, and Cody Gakpo.
This raises questions about Carvalho’s future at Merseyside, as he may seek more consistent first-team opportunities elsewhere.
The remaining pre-season games will likely offer more insight into Slot’s plans for Carvalho and the club’s attacking options. Whether Liverpool decides to keep the talented Portuguese midfielder, loan him out again, or sell him permanently, remains to be seen.
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