Fabio Carvalho might just have been the biggest winner from Liverpool's tour of the USA this summer. But whether he reaps the benefits at Anfield or elsewhere is yet to be decided, with two clubs now pushing for his signature .
Carvalho no doubt did enough in the second part of last season to put potential suitors on notice. Sent on loan after struggling to break into the plans of Jurgen Klopp , he had a tough time at RB Leipzig in the first half of the campaign, but restored his burgeoning reputation with nine goals and two assists in 20 Championship appearances for Hull.
And the electric start he has made under Arne Slot during pre-season in the US has turned that interest into something of a clamor. Indeed, the main question is surely whether the new boss will even be prepared to lose Carvalho , who has been among his top performers so far, albeit with key figures only just returning to the camp after international commitments.
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If Liverpool is willing to do business, then Carvalho should have the choice of at least two options. According to the Daily Mail , Leicester City has joined Southampton in a race for his signature.
The same report says that Liverpool is asking for about $19m (£15m/€17m) for Carvalho. However, the BBC claims that the Reds already rejected a bid of this amount from Southampton. CaughtOffside says the asking price is as much as $33m (£26m/€30m).
At that point, however, Liverpool would reportedly be ready to sanction a departure, despite Slot having been impressed by Carvalho. In that sense, then, a transfer might loom, especially if Southampton and Leicester — newly flush with Premier League cash — push each other closer to the asking price.
From Carvalho's perspective, it has been suggested that his preference is to remain at Liverpool. But it's no secret that competition for places has exploded at Anfield within the last couple of days as senior players have returned, and a proposal to make him a key figure elsewhere in the Premier League would surely be considered closely by him and his representatives.
In the meantime, the next challenge for Carvalho is to try and leave his mark on the friendly against Sevilla at Anfield, six days before the Premier League fixture against the other newly-promoted side, Ipswich Town. Should he manage to make an impact even among the returning stars, he could be in contention for minutes in the curtain-raising fixture.
Liverpool.com says: Southampton and Leicester both seem like good moves for Carvalho. You'd imagine he could be a key performer in either side.
But it can only be a good thing that Slot knows he has a place for Carvalho at Anfield if a bid at the asking price does not materialize. Liverpool has been linked with an extra attacker this summer, but with the Dutchman taking to the 21-year-old, there may well be an in-house solution.
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