19 July 2023 , 16:55
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Liverpool are reportedly interested in signing Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Marco Verratti, with Fabinho set to move to Saudi Arabia.
Fabinho is poised to join Al-Ittihad, who offered Liverpool £40million for the Brazilian midfielder. His five-year stay on Merseyside is close to completion, with a medical expected to take place later this week.
Liverpool have already recruited two midfielders this summer, bringing in Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai after allowing James Milner, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita to leave on free transfers. But it seems they now need to move for at least one more, with captain Jordan Henderson also closing in on a move to Saudi Arabia.
Henderson was left out of Jurgen Klopp’s squad for a friendly against German side Karlsruher on Wednesday. He is in discussions with Al-Ettifaq about joining former Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard at the Saudi club.
Liverpool are therefore exploring their options in the transfer market and a new name has now come into the mix. L’Equipe reports that Liverpool are one of two Premier League clubs who have been in contact with PSG over Verratti.
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PSG are happy to sell the Italy international, but will reportedly demand £69m for his signature. The 30-year-old is under contract with PSG until June 2026 and, like many European stars, has also received a lucrative offer from Saudi Arabia this summer.
Verratti has made 416 appearances for PSG since joining the club from Pescara in 2012. He is a deep-lying midfielder who has been among the best ball-winners and passers in the top five European leagues in recent years.
Fabinho is leaving Liverpool for Saudi Arabia (Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)Verratti has been at PSG for 11 years and is reportedly growing frustrated, having taken some stick from the supporters last season. He would be open to leaving the club, having previously attracted interest from a different Premier League club.
Back in May, Mirror Football reported that Manchester City had made enquiries about Verratti. City needed to replace captain Ilkay Gundogan, who left for Barcelona on a free transfer, and put Verratti on a shortlist which also included Mac Allister and Bayern Munich star Joshua Kimmich.
In the end they signed Mateo Kovacic in a £25m deal from Chelsea, with Pep Guardiola and his recruitment team perhaps preferring the cheaper option. Their decision means Liverpool could go for Verratti, but he is only one of several players being monitored.
They are one of many top Premier League clubs interested in signing Southampton star Romeo Lavia, although Saints’ £50m valuation means no bids have been submitted yet. Meanwhile, Man City’s Kalvin Phillips, Bayern’s Ryan Gravenberch and Borussia Monchengladbach’s Manu Kone have also been mentioned in the conversation around Liverpool midfield recruits.
Brighton star Moises Caicedo is not thought to be on Liverpool’s radar, with Chelsea in pole position, although the Seagulls have rejected a second offer worth £70m from the west London club.