In 2022, tremendous fanfare surrounded the Portuguese playmaker’s £5 million transfer to Anfield, with add-ons. Carvalho had high expectations because, at just 19 years old, he had already scored 10 Championship goals and provided eight assists.
Prior to agreeing to join Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool, he was courted by all of the top Premier League teams due to his impressive achievements for Fulham. According to Sky Sports, in an attempt to entice him to sign, Chelsea even offered him a “tour” of their Cobham facilities, and Manchester United ‘flew personnel to meet him.
Carvalho ultimately decided for Liverpool, but things haven’t gone well for him there.
He saw little action during the previous campaign and finished with just three goals across all competitions before being shipped off to RB Leipzig for the summer. However, the 21-year-old was sent back early from his loan at the beginning of this month after failing to find the form that had all the big Premier League clubs putting out the red carpet for him just a few years ago.
He will probably now spend the rest of the season on loan at Fulham, per Sport Bild. Carvalho may return to Craven Cottage, having only left in 2022 following his graduation from their academy and first-team debut.
Although reports this week suggest that Klopp has not given up on the midfielder despite his miserable tenure at Leipzig, where he was limited to substitute appearances and failed to record a single goal or assist, the Liverpool manager will be hoping that the familiar surroundings can help the player regain his form.
According to Fabrizio Romano, Liverpool plans to send him back out on loan during the January transfer window, with a number of Championship and Premier League teams, including Southampton- said to be considering hiring him.
If that’s Liverpool’s strategy, FIFA loan regulations will preclude Klopp from starting him in either Sunday’s FA Cup match against Arsenal or the EFL Cup semi-final against Fulham the following week.
According to the rules, a player may register for a maximum of three clubs in a given season. The player can only represent two clubs in official matches during this time.
Carvalho has already participated in games for Leipzig this season; therefore, should he play for his parent club, he would be ineligible to play for any other team until the following season, thereby preventing a potential loan move.
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