Following the shocking omission of Fabinho from Liverpool’s squad travelling to Germany for a pre-season training camp, and a £40m bid from Al-Ittihad, the Brazil midfielder could be in his final few days with the Reds.
Melissa Reddy has named four players who the Merseyside club are believed to be ‘assessing’ as possible replacements for the 29-year-old, while also appearing to rule out one current Premier League ace.
“Liverpool had been assessing longer-term candidates to replace Fabinho,” the Sky Sports journalist tweeted. As they will need an immediate starter, the profile may change.
“Names mentioned include Sofyan Amrabat, Ryan Gravenberch, Kalvin Phillips, and Romeo Lavia… Moises Caicedo was not on their shortlist.”
The quartet mentioned by Reddy had all been linked with Liverpool to varying degrees of intensity in recent weeks and months, with Lavia’s name being floated the most consistently by various media outlets.
He and Phillips are the two named candidates with Premier League experience who would be most useful in helping the Reds meet their squad requirements for homegrown quotas.
Due to their lack of game-time at their respective clubs last season, the Manchester City powerhouse and Gravenberch may be seen as reasonably attainable, though Pep Guardiola’s side may have reservations about selling to the team who have been their strongest challengers during his reign at the Etihad Stadium.
Despite reports on Friday that Caicedo was a possible target (talkSPORT), Brighton’s exorbitant £100 million asking price may have put a stop to Liverpool’s pursuit of him this summer.
With Fabinho now looking likely to leave following his exclusion from the Reds’ pre-season tour, it’s critical that the Reds act quickly in acquiring a readymade replacement in the number 6 role who’d be capable of performing to the standard of a Jurgen Klopp team.
