Liverpool has identified Fabinho's replacement as the Saudi Arabian club prepares a £40 million transfer bid.
Fabinho might be the next big-name Liverpool player to move to Saudi Arabia, following Roberto Firmino, who did so earlier in the summer transfer window, and Jordan Henderson, who could join him.
Liverpool are bracing for a £40 million approach from Saudi Arabian club Al-Ittihad for midfield mainstay Fabinho, prompting Jurgen Klopp to consider Southampton prodigy Romeo Lavia as his successor.
Lavia, 19, joined Southampton from Premier League winners Manchester City for an initial £10.5 million last summer and impressed in midfield despite the Saints' relegation from the top tier. The Belgian, who recently earned his first international cap, has piqued the curiosity of Arsenal, Manchester United, and Chelsea, but Liverpool appears to be the frontrunner.
That's because Klopp wants to bring in a new midfielder if Fabinho leaves for the Middle East. According to the Athletic, Al-Ittihad's pursuit of Fabinho would begin with a £40 million transfer offer, which Liverpool may accept.
The Brazilian midfielder will be 30 in October and is under contract with Liverpool until 2026. Fabinho, like many of his teammates, struggled with form last season, prompting Klopp to reorganize his squad.
Klopp's midfield overhaul has already begun, with the £105 million signings of Alexis MacAllister and Dominik Szoboszlai. Meanwhile, he said goodbye to James Milner, Naby Keita, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain when their contracts expired in June.
Jordan Henderson, like Fabinho, might be on his way out the door in a big-money move to Saudi Arabia, as forward Roberto Firmino has already done by joining Al-Ahli. All of this has resulted in Liverpool's interest in Lavia, who Southampton manager Russell Martin says may quit the club and return to the Premier League.
"That's the nature of the game, and some of them will be far too appealing to Premier League teams, wanting to play in the Premier League." You must respect that."
Notably, Southampton is said to value Lavia at a minimum of £40 million. The Saints owe Man City 20% of any future transfer price, as part of the deal that allowed him to move to the south coast in 2022.
The Belgium international has a four-year contract extension at St Mary's and returned to pre-season training last week. In March, Lavia told Sky Sports that he doesn't get caught up in rumors about his future, saying, "I don't read it." I don't read it because I don't give it any thought. I just want to enjoy my football and concentrate on what we have to do as a club.
"Whatever is outside is beyond my control, so I don't pay attention to it." Football moves at such a breakneck pace. You can be in the news one minute and then not the next. So the only thing to do is to remain impartial, not think about it, and go on.
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