Liverpool are very interested in apparent Chelsea target Fabio Carvalho, according to reports.
Football journalist Pete O'Rourke took to Twitter to say this on Thursday morning: "Liverpool are stepping up their pursuit of Fulham star Fabio Carvalho after chief scout Barry Hunter watched him in action last weekend against Bristol City."
Goal reported last month that Chelsea, as well as Liverpool, Barcelona and Real Madrid, hold an interest in the Fulham teenager, who has impressed in a high-flying Cottagers side in the Championship so far this season.
The 19-year-old came through the academy at Craven Cottage and has now established himself as a key member of Marco Silva's senior squad.
Carvalho has made 16 appearances for Fulham this season in the second-tier of English football - scoring seven goals and registering two assists in the process.
The teenager has been likened to Tottenham midfielder Dele Alli, when the Spurs man first moved to the Premier League and hit the division by storm.
Carvalho plays in a similar position to Alli, just behind the striker, but can also operate on the wing. Fulham play a 4-2-3-1 formation, with the youngster in the middle of the three behind the centre-forward.
This allows Carvalho to free roam to an extent, something he has flourished doing this term.
What's been said about Carvalho?
Former Fulham boss Scott Parker, who handed Carvalho his first-team debut towards the end of last season, was full of praise for the Lisbon-born attacker and tipped him to have a bright future.
Parker said: "Carvalho is a big positive. Massive positive for us because he is the one who is going to be here. He is a player that is really bright and can bring something to this team and you saw that today.
"We have seen his quality, we've seen him scoring and assisting at an under-23 level but now he has been around first-team players, he has pushed on and done that as well.
"I don't want to heap too much on Fabio because he's still a young boy, but the future is bright for him and he is someone that I really like."
Carvalho's contract situation
The Fulham teenager is yet to commit his future to the London-based club with his contract due to expire at the end of the season, which gives Chelsea the ideal chance to steal a march on Liverpool.
If the Cottagers cannot persuade Carvalho to extend his stay with the club, then he will be available on a free transfer at the end of the season.
However, as mentioned at the top of the article, it won't be only Chelsea who will be after his signature, with many top European clubs said to be interested in his situation.
