Al-Ittihad 'close to completing £40m Fabinho deal'

The Brazil international has been left out of the Reds' two pre-season squads for tours to Germany and Singapore as the two clubs try to thrash out an agreement over a fee.

Al-Ittihad originally tabled a £40m offer for Fabinho, but discussions were believed to be at risk of collapsing due to disagreements over the payment structure to Liverpool.

However, the two clubs have since restarted negotiations, and according to journalist Fabrizio Romano, Fabinho's switch to the Middle East is on the verge of being completed.

Romano states that the Reds are remaining cautious until all documents are signed and sealed, but if all goes to plan, Fabinho will undergo his medical imminently.

The former Monaco man is expected to sign a three-year deal with Nuno Espirito Santo's side, where he will link up with fellow summer signings N'Golo Kante, Karim Benzema and Jota.

Fabinho is set to leave Liverpool after becoming a mainstay of Jurgen Klopp's setup following his arrival in 2018, banking 11 goals and 10 assists in 219 matches for the Reds.

The South American lynchpin won the Champions League in his first season with the Reds, before also collecting winners' medals in the Premier League, EFL Cup, Club World Cup, UEFA Super Cup, FA Cup and Community Shield.

Fabinho contributed another two assists from 49 games last season, but his form took a nosedive, and he was heavily criticised for his performances as the Reds failed to qualify for the Champions League.

With the 29-year-old on the cusp of an exit, Liverpool are believed to be ramping up their efforts to strike a deal for Southampton's Romeo Lavia as a successor to Fabinho in the number six role.

Liverpool have apparently seen one bid worth up to £38m rejected by the Saints, who are now braced to receive a higher offer from Klopp's side in the coming days.

However, the Reds could face competition from Chelsea to sign the £50m-rated Lavia, who has been earmarked as an alternative to Brighton & Hove Albion's Moises Caicedo for the Blues.

Fabinho's imminent Liverpool exit will deplete the Reds' midfield ranks further after Jordan Henderson completed a £12m switch to Al Ettifaq, following Naby Keita, Arthur, Leighton Clarkson, James Milner and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain out of the door.

Nevertheless, the Reds have splashed out £95m on the double signing of Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai, who have both made the squad for their trip to Singapore.

Liverpool ended their recent Germany training camp with a 4-4 draw against Greuther Furth and will face Leicester City on Sunday before taking on Bayern Munich in their second Singapore friendly.