Manchester United are closing in on a deal for a $39 million midfielder, but with Liverpool looking for a Fabinho successor, The Reds need to get involved.
It looks like a new void will emerge in Jürgen Klopp’s squad in the coming days as Fabinho is set to move to Saudi Arabia this summer. The Brazil international has been the subject of interest from Al Ittihad and after weeks of negotiations, he now appears poised to make the move to the Middle East.
Fabinho has been Liverpool’s regular midfield presence since 2018, having been bought from AS Monaco at the time. The South American midfielder will leave quite a gap in Klopp’s midfield division once he leaves the English coast, as The Reds have been assessing the market for capable substitutes of late.
A slew of names have been linked in recent weeks, from Kalvin Phillips to Cheick Doucouré to Ryan Gravenberch, but at this stage it remains to be seen who will be heir to the Fabinho throne. As Liverpool continue to look for solutions, Manchester United could have provided an answer to Klopp.
The Old Trafford club are currently looking into a possible deal for Sofyan Amrabat. The Moroccan midfielder has a contract with Fiorentina which expires in about 12 months, which explains why he is on the market and also explains why he could be sold at a reasonable price.
According to TV Dello Sport’s Alfredo Pedullà, Manchester United could sign for just $39m (£30m/€35m). The Italian journalist has hinted that arch-rivals Liverpool have made a bid for his services, which should get Klopp’s attention on Merseyside.
Amrabat isn’t exactly a star in the transfer market, but he seems to have the skills to replace Fabinho in the Liverpool system. He’s hard-working, experienced and more forward-thinking than many fans might expect when in possession of the ball.
In Italy’s top flight last season, he was fourth in the division in progressive passes per 90 minutes, behind only former Reds players Luis Alberto, Maxime Lopez and Stefano Sensi. He is comfortable finding his more advanced teammates with passes between the lines. Along with his ability to move the ball around the pitch, he is also able to gain control by holding it. Last season, he made 1,323 of his 1,490 pass attempts in Serie A, which corresponds to a good success rate of 88.8%. By comparison, only Curtis Jones and Virgil van Dijk did better for Liverpool in the Premier League last season.
The 26-year-old star, who turns 27 next month, combines clean distribution with a physical advantage in midfield as he earned a reputation as a true destroyer at the World Cup in Qatar, but one who can also dictate when needed. He shocked the world by reaching the semi-finals of the prestigious tournament against underdogs Morocco and was one of the reasons it was so difficult to score against his side. Amrabat may be a little older than ideal, but with Fabinho – who is a regular starter – leaving so close to the new campaign, Klopp must be able to count on his next addition. Romeo Lavia, for example, is a solid candidate for a move to Anfield in the coming days, but he’s still a teenager.
It remains to be seen how the Reds will manage the dilemma surrounding Fabinho’s departure, but Liverpool need reinforcements, and fast. Lavia would be a welcome addition, but if Klopp wants a more proven product ahead of the new season – which is only two weeks away – Amrabat could be an affordable option.
Manchester United are trying to get him, but it wouldn’t be the first time the two legendary clubs have competed for the same player in the market, and it certainly wouldn’t be the last.
I found myself completely engrossed by your post. The richness of the content, combined with your eloquent writing style, made it an exceptional read. Your dedication to quality content is evident and greatly appreciated. Thank you for the enlightenment.