Liverpool made a move for fábio carvalho in january 2022, and it seemed like a natural move for the reds to make.
This was the best young player in the championship, playing exciting football and being offered a cut-price fee. Liverpool left it a little too late to get the deal done in the winter, but it was cancelled for the summer.
Carvalho would have returned to fulham on loan for the remainder of the season, so making a permanent move in january or may would not have made a difference.
Carvalho made a good impression in his debut season at anfield, but it was a difficult season to play in a team that was struggling. The portugal playmaker was unable to play regular minutes, and he played the equivalent of less than four full premier league matches in the league this season. with top-class midfield players arriving this summer in the form of dominik szoboszlai and alexis mac allister, the competition for spots was only going to get more difficult.
A loan move made sense, since liverpool had no desire to lose him permanently, but rb leipzig convinced carvalho and liverpool that this was the right place for his growth to continue, and that seemed possible.
The 21-year-old has only made one bundesliga start so far. He hasn’t even come off the bench seven times in the german top flight. Even with liverpool buying szoboszlai from leipzig, the race for a place in the squad under marco rose has been more difficult than anticipated, and carvalho is simply not getting the minutes he needs.
Fabrizio romano reported earlier this week that liverpool was in talks to bring carvalho back to the club.Despite the same reporter’s assertion that leipzig is trying to persuade liverpool to keep carvalho for the remainder of the season, it makes no sense for the reds or the player to do so.
Carvalho isn’t getting any more game time in germany right now than if he had stayed on merseyside. With the competition for positions at anfield more likely to increase than decrease, liverpool’s decision in january is a simple one. Carvalho needs to be recalled and sent somewhere that will guarantee a starting spot. another option, like fulham, would seem to make sense, considering that it is safe from premier league relegation and he would have no time to bed in.
Carvalho needs a club with guarantees after an exhausting 18 months. Liverpool boss jürgen klopp may have already stated that signing a defender in the winter market could be difficult because the right addition may not be available. But in the case of carvalho, things are much more cut and dry: it should be the reds’ first move this winter that he can play somewhere.
