Liverpool were convinced they had an ‘elite’ talent 12 months ago, now he’s set to leave the club

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Liverpool believed they’d signed an ‘elite’ talent when Fabio Carvalho joined them from Fulham last summer.

Things haven’t gone to plan for Carvalho since, with his game time tailing off markedly since the World Cup break. And now, as per GOAL, the 20-year-old looks ‘likely’ to be playing for a different club next season.

There have been reports that RB Leipzig could well be the side to offer him an escape route. They – along with Aston Villa – have seemingly been trying to convince Liverpool to let Carvalho leave on a permanent basis.

However, GOAL report that Liverpool are ‘insistent’ that the Portugal U21 star will not be sold. Instead, a loan looks to be on the cards.

It’s claimed that the Reds won’t yet give up on the player they saw as being at the top, top level. But, clearly, there needs to be improvement from Carvalho next season, wherever he is.

Carvalho with work to do at Anfield

Judging from Carvalho’s time at Fulham last season, Liverpool had every right to expect that they’d signed a potentially top player.

Yes, the Championship is not the Premier League, and Fulham is not Liverpool. But still, 10 goals and eight assists for a player yet to get out of his teens is impressive stuff.

Carvalho himself claimed to have designs on winning the Ballon d’Or, and there was feeling that the Reds may have just pulled of one of the bargains of the century.

There’s every chance that they still might have. Either way, if Liverpool do decide to cash in on Fabio, they’ll be guaranteed to bank a lot more than the £8m or so they paid for him.

But right now, Carvalho has work to do.

With plenty of incomings slated to happen at Liverpool this summer, he’s going to find himself further down the pecking order. Game time simply isn’t going to come at Anfield next season.

As a result, he needs to get out there and reaffirm that what Liverpool thought of him 12 months ago is still correct. If he can prove that, the future can still look bright for him and Merseyside. Go and show what you can do, Fabio!