A week on from the bombshell news that both Jordan Henderson and Fabinho could leave Liverpool for the Saudi Pro-League, it is looking increasingly likely that the Brazilian has played his last game for the club.
The 29-year-old has not joined the club’s trip to Germany for pre-season training and friendly matches. The rumoured fee of around £40million is seen by many observers as good business for a player that appears to be on the decline.
With the club set to lose a fourth senior midfielder this summer, Jürgen Klopp faces a race to bed in replacements before the first Premier League fixture away to Chelsea.
Benfica’s Florentino Luís has been suggested as a possible candidate for the ‘number six’ role vacated by Fabinho. The Portuguese star has been compared to players such as N’Golo Kanté and Claude Makélélé.
On the latest episode of our Journo Insight Show, we spoke to experienced LFC journalist Neil Jones for the lowdown on Luís.
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Neil said:
“I think he’s a player that Liverpool have liked certainly, and they’re not alone. Manchester United are another one definitely that have looked at him.
“I asked about Florentino Luís maybe springtime. It was told to me that Liverpool and Manchester United like this player. I was told, ‘Yeah, but no, we don’t need him.’ That’s changed obviously.
“Benfica and Porto are the two best-selling clubs in terms of developing talent for a couple of years and getting incredible fees. How much would you have to pay to get him?
“I spoke to his former coach João Tralhão and he said he’s like a Fabinho, a Casemiro.
“He gets through untold amounts of work – big, long legs, wins headers, gets stuck in, wins tackles. Certainly, in the group stage of the Champions League, I think he was the top for tackles and interceptions per-90.
“I wouldn’t say I expect Liverpool to go in for him at all, but I’ll be amazed if his name hasn’t come up in conversations. It has previously over scouting. I would be amazed if it hasn’t come up since this came about.”
Redmen Reacts
Florentino Luís has emerged as the preferred target of many fans online in the past few days. The 23-year-old formed a successful partnership with Enzo Fernández before the Argentinian was prized away by Chelsea. Benfica’s talent development is amongst the best in Europe, so there is every chance the Portuguese midfielder could thrive in the Premier League. If he were to adapt to English football as successfully as former teammate Rúben Dias, he could be the ideal replacement for Fabinho. He played 33 times in a title-winning league campaign last season but has only made 85 top-flight league appearances in his career, which could represent a gamble given the sort of fees Benfica are used to extracting for their players. The Portuguese giants will have the upper hand in negotiations – they know Liverpool will be desperate to make a signing and have received unexpected income, should Fabinho depart in the next few days. Perhaps Luís could be the typical LFC signing – someone who has not been linked with a move for a long period, with a deal completed swiftly.
TO HEAR MORE FROM NEIL ON THE FABINHO & HENDERSON, CLICK HERE
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