Fulham have reportedly expressed an interest in re-signing playmaker Fabio Carvalho on loan from Liverpool in January.
After leaving Craven Cottage 18 months ago at the end of his contract, the 21-year-old has had a far-from-ideal time at Anfield with the Whites continuing to improve under Marco Silva.
A report from the Mirror has shared more details about the Portuguese Under-21 international short-term future.
There are few positives to take from the time Scott Parker was in charge at Fulham.
Although he achieved promotion to the Premier League, the football was turgid and a disconnect between the fans and the club began to open up.
However, one of the key takeaways from his time in West London was the introduction of Fabio Carvalho to the first team.
The playmaker made his debut in the Premier League and even scored away to Southampton.
Under Marco Silva, Fulham’s style of play was transformed and Carvalho was phenomenal in the number ten role behind Aleksandar Mitrovic.
Ten goals and seven assists in that campaign earned him a move to Liverpool after he failed to extend a contract extension with the club.
Since then, he’s started just five league games in 18 months and a loan move to RB Leipzig has been a disaster.
Liverpool are in discussions about recalling Carvalho in January and a loan move back to Fulham could be on the cards.
The Whites are competing to finish in the top ten right now and adding some more depth to the squad would be no bad thing.
There’s already an understanding with the home fans that Carvalho at his best is a phenomenal player, but the club can’t afford to spend time trying to help another club’s player find some much-needed form.
Fulham interested in Carvalho reunion in January
The report from the Mirror suggests Liverpool want to send Carvalho out on another loan where he’ll get regular minutes.
They went on to say that sources close to the player believe he’s keen on a move back to the Cottage and that there’s been interest from Fulham’s side too.
The £40,000-a-week attacking midfielder already has a big fan at Fulham in the form of Marco Silva.
After one match during the promotion season, the Portuguese said: “Carvalho was fantastic. It is something he has been doing since pre-season.
“He started well against Boro, but it is not just him. I see the team playing better achieving better things and becoming more confident and consistent.
“But he was fantastic in the second half, he was fresh, and it wasn’t just with the ball as well, he did everything we asked him to do, but he is 18 and still learning as a player.
“It is up to me to give him the right information and important for him to keep his feet on the floor as it is a long journey for him.”
Ultimately, I’m not sure a move for Carvalho is something Fulham should pursue in January.
Andreas Pereira is rediscovering his form in that role, while Alex Iwobi is equally effective in that role if the Brazilian is unavailable.
If Fulham are going to play any youngster in that position right now it should be Luke Harris if he doesn’t leave on loan this winter.
Developing Liverpool’s players can’t be on Silva’s agenda even if there’s already a connection between Carvalho and the club.