For a manager who rarely gives anything away in his press conferences, Jurgen Klopp's frankness when discussing Fabio Carvalho's future represented a major surprise last week.
Even more so given the Liverpool boss was not even prompted to talk about the young attacker when he revealed that he would open to loaning him out this summer.
Having earlier been asked about some of the younger players at his disposal and the opportunities that might present themselves next season for a squad in the Europa League, Klopp talked up the likes of Stefan Bajcetic, Ben Doak, Harvey Elliott and Curtis Jones.
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The revelation of the plans for Carvalho only came later when the manager was asked about transfer targets for next season and the Reds boss belatedly had his memory jogged about the 20-year-old.
"By the way now, I forgot about Fabio Carvalho when I spoke about young players," Klopp began. "I forgot about him but it's just that maybe there is a possibility that Fabio will go on loan or whatever, we will see.
“I think there is maybe a possibility Fabio goes on loan but the thing is this was not Fabio’s best year in his career, clear, but it might have been his most important.
"No player has impressed me more than Fabio, it is the truth. This talented boy came here with big dreams and big expectations and it didn’t work out – it was OK in the beginning but it didn't work out in the end. But his work ethic will give him a fantastic career because he trained with getting nothing.
"Players have only one issue each week: you line me up or you put me in the squad. It's the only thing to satisfy a player. If I don't do that it is about how the player reacts and his reactions – in a row - I never saw before. Unbelievable. I'm not sure if he will go on loan but if we keep him we will see that."
Having started just one game since Christmas - in the FA Cup against Wolves in January - Carvalho, whose entire season lasted just 342 minutes, could see his future away from Liverpool in the coming weeks. The question is whether it will be permanent or not.
Whatever happens this summer, it's fair to say Carvalho has simply been a victim of circumstances in his maiden season at Anfield. Few predicted the alarming drop-off in performances and results last term for a team who had won both domestic cups before finishing their season with 92 Premier League points and a Champions League runners-up spot.
It was hoped that Carvalho's development and progress could come in a stable squad that was full of proven winners who had lifted every major trophy available across the three years previous. Instead, he found himself having to adjust to his first season in the Premier League, at a giant like Liverpool, during a period of shock regression while still in his teens. It was a difficult environment for him to thrive.
There can be little doubt, though, that his opportunities started to significantly dwindle the further Liverpool went in their season. Just five appearances of the 21 he made last term came after the World Cup and his last Premier League start was the 1-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest in October.
One of the difficulties, perhaps, is knowing where best to utilise his talents. Klopp's decision to start him in a midfield three alongside Elliott and Fabinho in a Merseyside derby at Goodison Park in September fell flat and he was withdrawn at half time with a dead leg.
His diminutive frame, tight close control and ability to pick the key pass in the final third maybe point to a player best suited to a No.10 role that Liverpool haven't played with since Philippe Coutinho moved to Barcelona over five years ago.
A 98th-minute winner against Newcastle United in late August has been the highlight of Carvalho's time to date, while his sweetly-struck volley in the 9-0 thumping of Bournemouth earlier that month was also a snapshot of his undoubted technical acumen, but overall, last season was just bad timing more than anything for the former Fulham youngster.
Liverpool worked hard to secure their agreement with Fulham at the start of last year. Having failed in their efforts to sign him as a transfer deadline day addition, an agreement was quickly reached in February of that year but with the Reds mindful of Fulham's promotion push, confirmation was not made public until after the campaign when the Cottagers were promoted as runaway winners of the Championship.
“He’s a player we have always rated, coming out of the academy and we would have loved to have kept him," said Fulham owner Tony Khan in May last year. "But we have made a deal that is best for the club and since that agreement, it’s worked out wonderfully because he has been such a valuable part of promotion."
Liverpool were desperate to avoid a tribunal with Fulham, having seen relations between the two clubs sour as a result of the Harvey Elliott pursuit in 2019 and instead, an agreement was reached to see the Reds pay the Londoners an initial £5m sum with a further £2.7m in add-ons, despite the prospect of snaring him for cheaper had they waited.
Sporting directors Julian Ward and Michael Edwards and Fenway Sports Group president Mike Gordon all worked on the deal to secure Carvalho and were said to be hugely impressed with how their Fulham counterparts of owner Khan and CEO Alistair Mackintosh handled the negotiation process.
Liverpool insist they have no desire to lose Carvalho on a permanent deal this summer and it is fair to reflect that there are major figures within the club beyond the manager who believe the versatile forward can be a difference maker in time at Anfield.
It is understood the Reds have already turned down one offer from an unnamed club with RB Leipzig reported to be keen. The Reds also fended off competition from abroad to land him last year with both Porto and Borussia Dortmund among those interested in the former Portugal Under-21 international.
A 20% sell-on clause that was inserted into the deal with Fulham is perhaps another factor for why Liverpool are insistent they don't want to lose Carvalho on anything other than a short-term loan deal when the transfer window opens.
They are, however, sympathetic to the player's wish to get more game-time on the pitch next season and despite the departures of James Milner, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Roberto Firmino and Naby Keita, the expected arrival of further reinforcements means that is something Klopp simply can't promise.
Interestingly, though, despite being a former Portugal youth international and the fact he was born in Porto, Carvalho qualifies for homegrown status and that is something the club have started to consider more prominently in recent times, even more so now Oxlade-Chamberlain and Milner have departed.
Carvalho's age and potential was also a factor. He was one of nine first-team signings made since September 2020 that were all aged 25 or under and while Liverpool need instant results going forward as they aim to rebuild and get themselves back into the Champions League spots next season, there is no real appetite to cast aside Carvalho indefinitely this coming summer as they get set for a wave of interest in a young player with vast potential.
"It's a long road to become your best version," Klopp said in that same press conference in specific reference to Curtis Jones. "Because you are young, there are big expectations, massive criticism from outside and all these kinds of things. To find yourself a way through all of that is not easy." He could quite as easily have been talking about Carvalho.
With several loan offers already on the table from Premier League clubs, an intriguing summer now awaits. Picking the right one could be vital to his long-term future, be it at Anfield or not.
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