“You have a good player who did a lot of good stuff in the past and then maybe, in your mind, you think: 'That's it now for him.’ If you can then go out and bring in another player to replace him that makes sense from both sides [to say]: 'Come on, it was a great time, see you later.'”
When Jurgen Klopp uttered such words earlier this month, going on to hint that Liverpool will make major changes to their playing squad next summer, in truth he could have been referring to a number of under-performing, ageing players at Anfield. But as supporters speculated, one player perhaps stood out more than most - Fabinho.
Once one of the first names on Klopp’s teamsheet, the Brazilian’s drop-off this season has been alarming. Going hand-in-hand with the Reds’ own struggles, particularly in midfield, his displays have even seen him lose his place to 18-year-old Stefan Bajcetic in recent weeks.
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Yet, with Liverpool not intending to strengthen their squad any further in January, the 29-year-old will have time to try and reclaim his place before the Reds’ planned midfield revamp in the summer.
After all, “If you cannot bring anybody in then you cannot take anyone out, that's the situation,” as Klopp would go on to admit.
Including Bajcetic, Liverpool boast 11 senior midfielders heading into the second half of the season. Yet, with Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, James Milner, and Juventus loanee Arthur Melo all not contracted to the club beyond the end of the season, it’s clear the Reds will need multiple new arrivals when their midfield revamp belatedly gets underway.
While it remains to be seen if Fabinho, who is under-contract until 2026, can rediscover his form, Jude Bellingham and Matheus Nunes are both well-documented to be of interest to Liverpool.
But while the Brazilian is potentially facing a fight for his future, a midfielder the Reds considered signing before deciding on Fabinho, back in May 2018, is set to be on the move on transfer deadline day.
Brought in in the immediate aftermath of Liverpool’s Champions League final defeat to Real Madrid in Kiev, the Reds snapped up Fabinho in a deal worth up to £43.7m from AS Monaco. But he wasn’t the only player they looked at, having also been credited in monitoring both Napoli midfielder Jorginho and Sampdoria's Lucas Torreira.
Ultimately the Brazilian’s stature, standing at 6ft 2 in comparison to the 5ft 11 Italian and 5ft 6 Uruguayan, helped make up Liverpool minds as the club’s recruitment team decided he was the imposing presence in midfield they needed.
Yet both alternative targets were on the move to the Premier League that same summer also, as Jorginho joined Chelsea in a £57m deal while Arsenal snapped up Torreira for £26m.
The Uruguayan would ultimately last just two seasons on loan at the Emirates before being farmed out on loan. Enjoying season-long stints with Atletico Madrid and Fiorentina, he then joined Galatasaray for £5.3m last summer. Making 89 appearances for the Gunners, scoring four goals, he would win a solitary FA Cup in the capital.
In contrast, Jorginho has shone at Stamford Bridge. Making 213 appearances, scoring 29 goals in four and a half seasons, he’s won the Champions League, Europa League, FIFA Club World Cup and European Super Cup with the Londoners. Meanwhile, he also played a starring role for Italy as they won Euro 2020.
But now, 18 months on from that international triumph at Wembley, which had seen him lauded as one of the best midfielders in the world, his Chelsea career is coming to an end.
Out of contract in the summer, Chelsea have agreed to sell Jorginho to Premier League leaders Arsenal after both London clubs were left frustrated in their efforts to sign Moises Caicedo from Brighton. The 31-year-old will depart for an initial £10m, rising to £12m with add-ons, and will sign an 18-month contract with the option to extend by a further year.
Meanwhile, Chelsea are pressing ahead with their own midfield revamp as they look to sign Enzo Fernandez from Benfica for a English record fee of £106m. Clearly, as loyal a servant as Jorginho has been, they are ruthlessly looking to the future by cashing in on their vice-captain before his contract runs out.
In truth, Liverpool will have no regrets that they opted to sign Fabinho over either Jorginho or Torreira, despite his drastic drop-off in form. Boasting 199 appearances for the Reds to date, scoring 11 goals, he has played a crucial role in their Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, League Cup, European Super Cup and Community Shield wins.
But with Chelsea initiating their midfield revamp by moving on Jorginho, they have now set an example for Liverpool to follow ahead of their own overhaul.
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