Liverpool have turned down a £15m bid from a newly-promoted Premier League side for winger Fabio Carvalho, according to a report.
The 21-year-old is yet to earn his stars at Anfield since joining in a cut-price deal from Fulham in the summer of 2022, scoring three goals in 21 appearances in his debut campaign.
Carvalho initially made an impression under Jurgen Klopp, but he fell out of favour in the second half of that campaign and also endured a failed loan spell at RB Leipzig in the first half of last season.
However, after leaving the German side with no goals and no assists to show from 15 matches, Carvalho found his golden touch at Hull City with nine goals and two assists from 20 Championship games.
The Portuguese starlet has also benefitted from the international exploits of Diogo Jota, Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo to shine in their pre-season tour of the USA, netting in victories over Arsenal and Manchester United.
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Liverpool 'knock back' Southampton bid for Carvalho
Whether Carvalho can hold his spot in the 2024-25 Premier League campaign remains to be seen, though, and according to The Athletic, newly-promoted Southampton recently submitted a £15m offer for his services.
Saints boss Russell Martin apparently wanted to bring the former Fulham starlet to St Mary's in the January transfer window, only to lose out to Hull, but they have now rekindled their interest.
Martin was said to have been on the charm offensive seven months ago and impressed Carvalho during their discussions, but the report claims that Liverpool swiftly rejected the offer.
The Reds still have the 21-year-old under contract for another three seasons until 2027 and are not willing to loan him out again, but it would take a significantly higher offer for them to consider selling.
Slot is said to have been hugely impressed with Carvalho in pre-season, and the Portugal Under-21 international is in the Dutchman's plans for the 2024-25 campaign as a left winger.
Carvalho 'open' to staying at Liverpool
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Colombia international Diaz has been Liverpool's first choice in that position since Sadio Mane's exit, but the South American's future has been called into question amid interest from Barcelona.
On the player's side, Carvalho is supposedly happy to stay at Liverpool, although he is prioritising regular minutes and would be prepared to leave if his chances for starts at Anfield remain limited.
The two parties are expected to hold further talks over Carvalho's future when they return to Kirkby following their USA tour, but Southampton are likely to face competition from several other clubs for the 21-year-old.
Carvalho is set to be involved in at least one of the Reds' final two pre-season matches of the summer, the first of which sees Slot's side host Sevilla at Anfield at 12.30pm on August 11, a few hours before a meeting with Las Palmas behind closed doors.
The Reds then kick off their new Premier League campaign away to newly-promoted Ipswich Town in the lunchtime slot on August 17.
Ben Knapton
