As Liverpool prepare for the home straight of the season, summer plans are starting to come into view.
Still gunning for four trophies and with Jurgen Klopp set to depart, no Liverpool fan will be wanting the 2023/24 campaign to come to an end. Nevertheless, it will. And from there, the usual incomings and outgoings will commence.
One of those who’s future will be up in the air is on-loan attacking midfielder Fabio Carvalho. Unwanted by the Reds this season, Carvalho is currently with Hull City and doing very well for that matter.
As a result of his success on Humberside, Hull vice-chairman Tan Kesler has told The i that his club would be interested in snapping Carvalho up permanently this summer. However, Kesler admitted that the finances of any such deal make it difficult for the Tigers.
“I’m not going to say it’s easy because the financials are strong,” said the Turk. “[He has] a Premier League level salary [and] Liverpool are going to demand quite a bit of a transfer fee for him. The chairman would want to sign him, he would do it in a heartbeat, if there’s no FFP, no regulations, no control, I’m sure we will invest to sign Fabio.
“If we’re promoted for sure we will pursue him because of the money we would be receiving, we would try to allocate those finances on players like Fabio. It can be unrealistic expectations for some of our fans but we’re very optimistic. If any of this happens we will do it because he’s someone we would love to have long term.”
Hull aiming for Carvalho deal
The inference here is that even if Hull do not earn promotion to the Premier League, they may make a push to sign Carvalho anyway. However, if Kesler and co do go up this season, then it’s a certainty that they’ll come after him.
At the moment, promotion for Hull is still very much in the balance. Truth be told, the top four places in the Championship already look sown up, with a group of around four to six teams battling for the final two play-off spots.
Presently, Hull do occupy the last of those four places, sitting in sixth. With just five points separating the four teams below them though and 11 games to play, you can’t call it yet.
Even if they do make the play-offs, it’s a one in four chance. Perhaps less given that one or two recent Premier League stalwarts will all be potentially there. As things stand, Leicester, Leeds and Southampton would feel like the favourites to go up.
With Ipswich also enjoying a fantastic season, Hull’s chances seem relatively slim. Nevertheless, they are in the mix.
Pull it off, and it seems likely that they could strike a deal for Carvalho. Although Klopp’s imminent exit may actually help his chances of a future at Liverpool, it’s unlikely that the Reds would stand in the 21-year-old’s way if a good offer comes in.
A big profit on the £8m or so they spent on him could be appealing.
For now though, this is all just ifs and buts. Carvalho needs to keep focused on delivering for Hull between now and May. When the dust settles on the season, let’s see where things lie.