Liverpool may have already found their Fabinho replacement after Jurgen Klopp received a major injury boost.
Fabinho has followed in the footsteps of former teammate Jordan Henderson and joined the Saudi Pro League, signing for Al-Ittihad for a reported fee of £40 million.
While the cash will come as a welcome boost to Liverpool's transfer budget, his exit has left Klopp in dire need of midfield reinforcements after Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Naby Keita and James Milner also left the club earlier this summer.
As things stand, the Merseyside outfit are without a fit and recognised defensive midfielder in the squad as they prepare to face Chelsea on August 13.However, in a major boost for Klopp, midfield duo Thiago Alcantara and and Stefan Bajcetic are set to return to training on Saturday, according to This Is Anfield.Thiago has been sidelined since undergoing surgery on a long-standing hip flexor problem in May. While Bajcetic missed the back end of last season due to an adductor injury.
Bajcetic, just 18, became a key component of Klopp's starting XI after a plague of injuries infiltrated his midfield last season. In addition, Thiago's vast experience and ability to play the No. 6 role could prove vital.In the meantime, Liverpool are still trying to sign a defensive-minded midfielder before the transfer window slams shut on September 1, with Romeo Lavia having emerged as a potential option.
However, Liverpool have hit a stumbling block in their pursuit of the 19-year-old, after their opening two bids fell short of Southampton's £50 million valuation.In turn, they have readjusted their focus to Fluminense midfielder Andre Trindade, while Leicester City's Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall has been touted as another option.
Indeed, Bajcetic is only a year younger than Lavia, and therefore may be given the responsibility should Klopp fail to recruit a new midfielder this summer.While Cutis Jones played the position during Liverpool's 4-3 defeat to Bayern Munich on Wednesday.
New signings Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai are expected to play a key role, but it remains to be seen who will join them in a midfield three.
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