28 June 2023 , 23:00
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RB Leipzig are determined to try and sign Fabio Carvalho on a permanent transfer - although Liverpool have already rejected an initial proposal from the German side.
Carvalho has scored just three times in 21 appearances since joining Liverpool from Fulham for £7.7million a year ago. He could leave the Reds on loan ahead of the 2023/24 campaign, as Jurgen Klopp does not want to sell. Leipzig are amongst a number of clubs who want to sign the Portugal Under-21 international, with West Ham, Burnley and Brentford also interested in a move for the youngster.
Marco Rose's side initially submitted a permanent offer buy Carvalho as they tried to get their business done early. Liverpool declined Leipzig's bid but are open to letting him leave on loan to gain regular game time. However, according to BILD in Germany, Leipzig are not giving up on sealing a permanent move for Carvalho.
The report claims Leizpig's hope is to get Carvalho more minutes and make him feel so comfortable that he wants to stay long-term beyond the initial year loan. As Leizpig have a good relationship with Liverpool, they are hopeful that could help them in getting Carvalho permanently, even though it could wreck the two clubs' connection.
Carvalho impressed at the start of his Liverpool career and scored his first goal in a record-breaking 9-0 victory over Bournemouth, before netting the winner as they secured a dramatic late win against Newcastle. However, Carvalho dropped down the pecking order with Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliott jumping up above them, and that reduced his game time for the second half of the season after the World Cup.
Klopp's dream Liverpool line up as last-gasp January transfers rejected
Fabio Carvalho has struggled for game time at Liverpool (Getty Images)In fact, Carvalho's last start came in the 1-0 FA Cup win over Wolves in January. Speaking about the player's future ahead of Liverpool's trip to Southampton on the final day of the Premier League season in May, Klopp claimed there is a possibility Carvalho could depart on loan.
"There’s a possibility that he will go on loan, we’ll see," Klopp said. "This was not Fabio’s best year in his career but it might have been his most important. No player has impressed me more than Fabio. It is true. This very talented boy came here with big dreams and big expectations. It was okay in the beginning but didn’t work out (later in the season). His work ethic will give him a fantastic career.
"He trained and got nothing (in terms of team selection). His reactions in a row, I never saw before."
Leizpig have worked with Liverpool before on a number of transfers. Naby Keita's big-money move to Anfield in 2018 was arguably the most high profile, while another player could make the same switch this summer. Dominik Szoboszlai has emerged as a potential target for the Reds in recent days, with Klopp pushing hard to sign the attacker after an impressive spell in the Bundesliga.