Liverpool remain adamant that Fabio Carvalho is part of their long-term plans, despite sending the midfielder out on loan to RB Leipzig.
Carvalho will spend the entriety of next season at the Bundesliga side, having pushed for an exit from Anfield this summer. He only arrived on Merseyside 12 months ago, but struggled for game-time after being signed from Fulham.
While Jurgen Klopp is set to overhaul parts of his squad this summer, it appears that Carvalho is not seen as a option by the German for the upcoming campaign. Instead, he has been granted his wish and will hope to become a key part of Leipzig's team.
He joins a club which finished third in the Bundesliga last season and as a result will get the chance to play in the Champions League. Leipzig have also won two DFB-Pokals in succession, meaning Carvalho will be joining a squad full of trophy-winning experience.
Liverpool are hoping that his time at the Red Bull Arena will help him in his future career back at the Reds. According to the Liverpool Echo, club chiefs at Anfield were 'unwilling' to allow the 20-year-old to leave on a permanent basis.
Instead they are said to be 'adamant' that his best years remain back at Liverpool. They insist that this loan is only a temporary one to allow Carvalho to gain much-needed game-time after a difficult debut season at Liverpool.
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He was limited to just 13 Premier League appearances across the campaign, being handed just one start in 2023. Carvalho is hopeful that Leipzig will be the best environment for him to realise his potential.
"As a young player, it's a big step for me to move from England to the Bundesliga and RB Leipzig. I'm joining a strong side, one that has been very successful in recent years. Now, I want to help build on this and am looking forward to taking on a new challenge," he said.
"My goal is to play as much as possible, in the league, the cup and especially in the UEFA Champions League. RB Leipzig have a reputation for giving young players these kinds of opportunities, which is why this is the perfect club for me to continue my development at."
Leipzig are also hopeful that Carvalho's time in Germany can be successful. The club's board member for sport Max Eberl has hailed the Portuguese youngster and believes he will fit into the team's identity well.
"Fábio Carvalho is a huge talent – the fact that Liverpool signed him recently just proves that. He is quick, agile, full of tricks and creative. He likes to get shots away and can also set his teammates up," he said.
"We will give Fábio the time he needs to settle in here and to adjust to life in a new country and with a new club. We are looking forward to him improving our attacking game and to have another option in this department."
