Fabinho has reportedly agreed personal terms with Al-Ittihad in a deal worth £40million and Liverpool are already looking for his replacement.
Liverpool have been handed a boost with a free run at signing Fabinho’s replacement after Chelsea ‘refused’ to join a transfer race. Fabinho missed Liverpool’s pre-season training camp in Germany as the club aims to complete his £40millon move to Saudi Arabian club Al-Ittihad
Jurgen Klopp is overseeing a midfield overhaul at Anfield this summer with Fabinho joining the likes of James Milner, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita all leaving. In response, the Reds have signed attacking midfielders Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai.
Cashing in on Fabinho will aid Klopp in his pursuit of potential replacement Joao Palhinha from Fulham. The defensive midfielder signed for Fulham from Sporting Lisbon last summer for £20m and signed a five-year deal.
The Portuguese international made 35 Premier League appearances and is in high demand this summer. West Ham are trying to tempt Palhinha with a move across London and have the financial advantage having sold Declan Rice for £105million.
talkSPORT have reported that Chelsea have ‘refused’ to join the transfer race for the 28-year-old. Mauricio Pochettino has cranked up the pressure on co-owner Todd Boehly with a fresh transfer demand but seems to have ruled out a move for Palhinha.
As Chelsea look to build a squad full of talented youngsters it is reported that they believe the Portuguese midfielder is too old. That will be music to the ears of Liverpool fans as the midfielder seems the perfect replacement for Fabinho.
With attacking midfielders Mac Allister and Szoboszla already signed, defensive-minded player Palhinha will add some balance and scored three Premier League goals last season. However, West Ham have reportedly had a bid of around £43m for the contracted player refused and a transfer race could develop.
It is reported that Fulham are looking for around the £60m mark and have no shortage of teams keeping track of Palhinha. With skipper Jordan Henderson also likely to depart, Liverpool have an eight-man wish list giving them options this summer.
