Fabinho could open door to exciting Liverpool signing after ‘late transfer twist’

Word coming out of Germany is that Bayern Munich have one eye on Fabinho’s situation

Fabinho is reportedly attracting interest from German champions Bayern Munich in what would be a major late plot twist to his expected move to Saudi Arabia.

The Brazilian has been absent for much of the Reds’ pre-season preparations. Last Saturday he was left out of the 32-man group that travelled to the Baden-Wurttemberg training camp as a £40 million bid from Al Ittihad was left with Anfield chiefs to mull over.

At 29 and with three years remaining on his current Liverpool contract, even a slight dip in standards last season was not enough to suggest Jurgen Klopp would actively seek to push his prized midfielder towards the exit door. Yet that position has been tested by Saudi suitors.

And now it appears Al Ittihad are not the only admirers. Florian Plettenberg of Sky Germany issued an interesting claim via Twitter on Friday evening, stating Bayern are now keeping tabs in case negotiations between the Saudi champions and Liverpool fall through. What’s more, agent Jorge Mendes is also believed to have a top relation with high-ups in Munich.

“But: If the deal falls through, he would be interesting for Bayern! He fits into the profile. Bosses have a top relation to his agent Jorge Mendes.”

The entire saga has presented quite a big question of what to do, to what otherwise would have been a relatively simple summer. 19-year-old Romeo Lavia was long-linked with becoming an heir to Fabinho during what looked to be his final years at the club, now that seems unlikely.

The Belgian would make a fine addition regardless, but would he be enough? The general consensus on someone so young and with only one year of Premier League experience is no, and at that stage of the debate it becomes a desperate scramble to draw up alternatives.

One such name thrown into the equation has been Joshua Kimmich. 28-years-old, over 200 appearances for his current club, a proven leader for club and country, versatility to slot into both defensive midfield and right back roles and an eight-time Bundesliga champion – you could hardly say no to such a player.

With the Reds also braced to lose Jordan Henderson to Al Ettifaq too, the German international would potentially cover the invaluable characteristics of both departing stalwarts.

In the past Manchester City had been linked, though that was a time when his place in Bayern’s squad was rock solid. In recent days that appears to have changed, with the club’s bosses now ‘willing to talk’ about a transfer.

So, would it be ridiculous to suggest a part exchange deal? Or at the very least, could Fabinho open the door for a Kimmich departure? If Fabinho truly wants out of Liverpool and it is not to be Al Ittihad, Bayern presents a far greater challenge for someone of the Brazil international’s ilk.

Kimmich too has won the lot in his native land, he has seen former team-mates in Thiago Alcantara, Robert Lewandowski and David Alaba all seek out fresh starts in foreign leagues over recent years – is now his time to do the same?

The Reds would only have to go and hand the £40 million transferred from Al Ittihad over to Bayern if they were to pursue Kimmich, after all. Cutting out the middle man would serve to secure one of the transfers of the summer.