La Liga star ‘rejects’ move to Liverpool as Klopp continues search for Fabinho replacement

Jurgen Klopp’s efforts to bring in a replacement for Liverpool midfielder Fabinho have been hampered by Aurelien Tchouameni’s decision to snub a move, according to reports.

The Reds started off the transfer window in perfect form with the early signings of Alexis Mac Allister from Brighton for £35m and Dominik Szoboszlai from RB Leipzig for £60m.

But clubs in Saudi Arabia have thrown a spanner in the works with Liverpool receiving a £40m offer for Fabinho from Al-Ittihad, while Jordan Henderson is reportedly considering a £700k-a-week offer from Al-Ettifaq, who are managed by former team-mate Steven Gerrard.

That could mean Liverpool go back into the transfer market for at least one or two more midfielders after already losing Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and James Milner on free transfers this summer.

Cheick Doucoure, Khephren Thuram, Florentino Luis, Sofyan Amrabat and Ryan Gravenberch are amongst the names linked with a move to Anfield this summer if Fabinho and/or Henderson leave.

And now Spanish newspaper AS (via Fichajes) claims that Liverpool have made an offer to Tchouameni in an attempt to lure him to Merseyside this year.

READ MORE: Liverpool change transfer tack again as surprise midfielder move should be anything but

The France international’s form and injuries have meant that Real Madrid fans are yet to see his full potential with many seeing him as the perfect replacement for Casemiro.

That has seen speculation grow that he could leave the Bernabeu this summer with Liverpool ‘making an offer’ which has ‘been rejected by the footballer himself’.

The report adds that Tchouameni’s ‘main desire is to continue playing for Real Madrid’ and he wants to ‘earn a permanent place’ in Carlo Ancelotti’s side.

Real Madrid would also have turned down approaches from the Reds if they’d made their interest official with Los Blancos ‘frustrating the plans of a Liverpool that has already unsuccessfully tried to sign Fede Valverde‘.

Former Liverpool midfielder Steve Nicol reckons Fabinho’s “legs have probably gone” if Klopp is willing to sell the Brazilian with pre-season already underway.

Nicol told ESPN: “Do you know, it’s funny, at the end of the season when we were talking about Liverpool’s midfield, and the thing I said was: ‘well, it’s interesting to figure out whether Liverpool – Klopp, in particular – but the coaching staff when they all get together and talk about the players, whether Fabinho had a bad spell or whether his legs might have gone’.

“And the fact they’re willing to listen to offers for him at this stage, with pre-season already started, tells you that I think the answer is they think his legs have probably gone. So that is what this tells me.

“And if they can get £40 million for a guy who they obviously are not desperate to keep him if they’re going to let him go, then you take the money.”