Were PSG transfer stories leaked in order to distract one Liverpool player?

Liverpool midfielder Fabinho says he was never on the verge of leaving Anfield for Paris Saint-Germain last summer.

The Brazilian has gone from strength to strength under the direction of Jurgen Klopp and is rapidly becoming a crucial member of Liverpool’s squad as they pursue a first league title in 29 years.

How did Liverpool sign Fabinho? Five key things to know…

1. Before transferring to Liverpool, Fabinho made 233 appearances with Monaco.
2. He arrived at Anfield from the French side for £39m.
3. Fabinho has previously spoken of Manchester United interest.
4. Liverpool ultimately beat PSG to his signature.
5. Fabinho was encouraged to join Liverpool by Man City midfielder Bernardo Silva.

Liverpool bought Fabinho for £44m last summer as part of a revamp of the Reds’ midfield under the German tactician, but before the winter transfer window opened the 25-year-old was linked with a rapid exit to PSG.

Fabinho has denied the validity of the reports and insists that he never considered moving anywhere else apart from Liverpool.

“I never thought of going elsewhere,” Fabinho, who played as a centre-back in Saturday’s 0-1 win over Brighton, told L’Equipe, before appearing to suggest the rumours were leaked in order to distract him in the build-up to games with the Parisian club.

“I know a lot of things were written in the newspapers, but it wasn’t true. What’s funny is that this PSG loan story came out just before our Champions League match [on November 28].

“I had already experienced a similar story the day before the Coupe de la Ligue final between PSG and Monaco [in March 2018]. It’s a strange coincidence, isn’t it?”

Fabinho added: “If I had to sign at PSG, it’s the year before it could have been done.

“They were very interested, I talked a lot with Antero Henrique [PSG’s sporting director] and the club’s leaders, but it didn’t work. The year after, I did not wait for them and then I thought it was time to leave France.”

Liverpool’s new midfield duo still yet to prove themselves?

Liverpool have had a fantastic season in the Premier League so far. They completed the first half of the campaign without losing a single game and currently sit at the top of the Premier League.

They have been impressive on two fronts this season. In attack, the Reds have wowed the footballing world with their electric play and bags of goals and in defence, they’ve proved to be almost impregnable; they’ve conceded the fewest in the league (10).

Liverpool’s midfield have grabbed fewer headlines this season, however, and some think that the additions to the middle of the park have added little to the Reds’ overall success this campaign.

Reds legend Graeme Souness, for instance, doesn’t think Fabinho and Naby Keita are upgrades on what was already at the club. “It’s very hard to be critical of Liverpool’s form in the Premier League, but they’re not firing on all cylinders,” Souness said on Sky Sports during December.

“I think a lot of the problems come from midfield. I think if you go back to the summer, he (Klopp) signed two midfield players and wanted a third one – Nabil Fekir from Lyon – and I’m not sure if Fabinho and Naby Keita are an upgrade on what he’s already got.”

The post Fabinho denies reports he could have left Liverpool for PSG appeared first on Squawka News.

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