Man Utd target features on four-man Liverpool shortlist of replacements for Saudi-bound midfielder

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·15 July 2023

Man Utd target features on four-man Liverpool shortlist of replacements for Saudi-bound midfielder

Thiago comes on for Liverpool teammate Fabinho.

Man Utd target Sofyan Amrabat is reportedly viewed by Liverpool as a potential replacement for Fabinho, who is set to join the Saudi Pro League.

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Liverpool are overhauling their squad ahead of next season and they are looking to improve their midfield after their below-par campaign in 2022/23.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Naby Keita and James Milner have left upon the expiry of their contracts and Liverpool have since spent £95m to sign Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai.

In recent days, it has been reported that Fabinho and Jordan Henderson are being pursued by the Saudi Pro League. The Englishman is being targeted by Steven Gerrard’s Al Ettifaq.

Fabinho and Henderson have both been integral players for Liverpool under Jurgen Klopp but this is perhaps the right time for them to be phased out as the Premier League giants enter a new era.

The Athletic are reporting that ‘Liverpool would step up their pursuit of a new holding midfielder’ if Fabinho leaves this summer. They add.

‘They retain an interest in Southampton’s Romeo Lavia but regard his £50m price tag as excessive. ‘Liverpool had been eyeing a long-term successor to Fabinho but now they will need someone capable of slotting straight into Jurgen Klopp’s side. As a result the profile of the player they pursue could now change. ‘Moises Caicedo is not viewed as a serious option with the Brighton midfielder expected to join Chelsea. ‘However, Fiorentina’s Sofyan Amrabat, Bayern Munich’s Ryan Gravenberch and Manchester City’s Kalvin Phillips are among those under consideration, along with Lavia.’

Amrabat – valued at £25m – shone for Morocco at last year’s World Cup and he is among Erik ten Hag’s favoured targets for Man Utd.

Regarding Henderson, he has ‘verbally agreed’ to a three-year deal with Al Ettifaq, which would see him earn around £700,000 per week.

But this deal is currently being held up over the transfer fee. The Saudi Pro League outfit are looking to sign Henderson on a free, but Liverpool are adamant that they want a sizable fee for their club captain, who still has two years remaining on his current contract.

The report adds: ‘Senior Anfield figures have dismissed suggestions that Henderson, who has two years remaining on his current deal, could either be granted a free transfer or sold for a fee as low as £10m.