Although, Liverpool were looking to finish the January transfer window in style, their attempt to buy Fulham’s promising young talent Fabio Carvalho fell apart in the 11th hour.
Fabio Carvalho has been on Klopp’s scout list for a few months now. The 19-year-old, born in Portugal, has been key in Fulham’s promotion charge this season. Despite being a youngster, he has had a fixed position in Marco Silva’s squad so far this season. However, Liverpool’s failure to land Fabio does not mean that they have gone out of the race for his signing.
Reportedly, Anfield is the youngster’s desired-future destination. So, although, the potential £8m winter signing might have gotten delayed, The Reds’ remain the frontrunners, still, to secure the player in the summer.
What makes Fabio Carvalho so special?
Fabio Carvalho was born in Portugal’s capital city, Lisbon. From a very early age he got into Benfica’s youth team, he was just 7. Having been able to kickstart his career at such an early age, the young attacking midfielder further got the benefit of time and to work on his skills. Now he is able to play in a deeper midfield role as well as in the wider areas of the pitch. Fabio soon rose through the ranks of the Benfica youth team, and soon after Fulham’s youth set-up as well.
While he was racking numbers and working hard in the youth teams, the Portuguese-born youngster played for the English national side too. Fabio Carvalho has represented England at U16, U17, and U18 levels. He made his Premier League debut last season, 2020/21, in which the Cottagers got relegated to the championship. 18, then, he scored his first senior goal in the Premier League that season, and it was against Southampton.
The versatile young midfielder has a knack for picking up the right passes for his teammates. Not only that, his ability to play a supporting role to the forwards has caught the eye of many.
Can see why Liverpool are opting for Fulham’s Fabio Carvalho. You basically won’t find a bigger goal threat among U21-players in that position anywhere. pic.twitter.com/lgSJWDvRg1
— Marcus Bring (@MarcusBr22) January 25, 2022
Why are Liverpool interested in the 19-year-old?
Ever since his debut season in the Premier League, Fabio Carvalho has become a hot topic amongst the bigger clubs. Although, Fulham were successful to keep him in, at least, the winter transfer window. However, the youngster’s farewell from the Craven Cottage is inevitable as he wants a change of path in his career, and rightly so!
As per the recent developments, it is clear that Liverpool are very much the frontrunners to land the exciting- young prospect at Anfield. Although, due to time strain the transfer could not go through in January. It has been reported that there is no other club to challenge The Reds as the player and the Merseyside club both hold a mutual admiration for each other.
Meanwhile, if Liverpool are able to secure the signing of this youngster come summer, then it will be a clear show of the intent by the club in their bid to improve their squad and make it sustainable. The addition of youngsters to the team is the future security of the club. In a hope that these growing/developing young guns will, take the baton from the more experienced players and lead the team from the front in the future.
Liverpool already have some good young players – Curtis Jones, Kaide Gordon, Harvey Elliott, Tyler Morton, Neco Williams – who are shining under the guidance of Jurgen Klopp. The addition of an exciting prospect, in Fabio Carvalho, will only bolster the already fierce looking list of young players.
Recent Developments
The young Timorese attacking midfielder has been in scintillating form lately. Despite having to cope with a knee injury, and missing some more games due to COVID positive result, Carvalho has still managed to score 7 championship goals and has also provided 4 assists, in just 18 championship games so far this season – making himself a key piece in this Marco Silva’s free-scoring Fulham side, who are blowing away teams in the Championship this season.
Although, the Reds were looking to buy the young midfield player at the end of the season, in the summer of 2022. But the consistency and the outrageous run of form forced the Liverpool Board to make a move for the player as early as January.
After extensive negotiations, between the two clubs, Liverpool were on course to sign the Portuguese-born youngster. The medical procedures were done, but it was a race against which the Reds lost. The deal of around £8m, as per the sources, had to be stopped owing to the deadline. A bitter end to what had been a fairly good winter transfer window, after successfully signing the Columbian star Luis Diaz.
However, despite an attempt to secure the player in January gone awry, Liverpool believe they will secure the services of the young midfielder in the summer.
Liverpool did not complete Fabio Carvalho deal with Fulham by deadline.
However, if all parties agree there can still be a pre-agreement for the player to move to Liverpool in July. There is no immediate time pressure for that agreement to be reached.— paul joyce (@_pauljoyce) January 31, 2022
It comes as no surprise, as both of the clubs share a strong relationship. While also, having completed all the final steps (player agreement, medical, etc.) before the move broke down on Monday’s deadline. No wonder it puts the Merseyside club to sign the young star in the summer.
