Fabio Carvalho has provided Liverpool head coach Arne Slot with quite the dilemma after impressing on the United States pre-season tour.
Back on Merseyside following loan spells with RB Leipzig and then Hull City last season, the 21-year-old has set about proving his worth to the new Reds boss as he seeks regular game time in the 2024/25 campaign.
To Carvalho’s credit, netting against Arsenal and Manchester United is certainly the best way to catch the eye as an attacking player. Although his future might be away from Liverpool as Southampton have reportedly followed up their interest by making an offer.
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Now, as revealed by The Athletic, the Saints’ bid, worth up to £15m, has been rejected and it’s understood that a considerably higher offer is required in order to tempt the Reds into a permanent sale as they have no interest in letting the former Fulham man depart on loan again.
Where things get interesting is Slot’s stance on Carvalho. The aforementioned report states the Dutchman anticipates utilising the youngster next season having been hugely impressed with the attacker throughout pre-season.
With that said, it’s worth keeping in mind that a change is imminent. From next season Carvalho will no longer be classed as an Under-21 player and therefore has to be registered Liverpool’s 25-man Premier League squad in order to be eligible for the competition.
Fabio Carvalho
Fabio Carvalho dilemma
However, should a suitable proposal arrive before the summer transfer window closes then a decision will have to be made.
Whilst Carvalho sees himself as a number 10 – a role that could be available if Slot sticks with a 4-2-3-1 system – he does have the likes of Harvey Elliott ahead of him in the pecking order and competition is just as fierce in the wide areas.
One way or another Carvalho’s future will be decided within the next month as it remains to be seen if his impressive pre-season form earns him a spot in Liverpool’s Premier League squad or if he has to seek pastures new to prove he can cut it at the top level.
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