Southampton keeping tabs on £5m former Liverpool man who wants out

Southampton are monitoring Brentford attacker Fábio Carvalho’s transfer situation as the Portuguese prodigy feels open to a fresh move this summer.

A common theme among newly promoted Premier League clubs is heavy investment in the summer transfer window to make their squad top‑flight ready. With Southampton knocking on the door of promotion, the same is expected from the Saints if they reach the Premier League.

While it may still be early to finalise transfer recruitments, the Saints have been suggested to target ambitious players such as Leeds’ Ao Tanaka. Recently, the club added another Premier League prodigy to their summer watch list.

The player in question is Brentford attacker Fábio Carvalho. After a forgettable couple of seasons with the Bees, the Portuguese midfielder will likely consider a transfer this summer.

Saints Talk updated about Southampton’s interest in Carvalho, quoting: “Southampton along with Strasbourg, Stuttgart and Olympique Lyonnais are all interested in Brentford midfielder Fabio Carvalho, who is looking to leave the club this summer.”

Fábio Carvalho’s Brentford situation can enable a move

Carvalho’s time in the Premier League has been underwhelming given his talent. Despite having excellent numbers at the youth level for Fulham, his career has yet to take off at the senior top-flight level.

Notably, Fábio Carvalho debuted in the Premier League during the 2020/21 season at just 18 years old. While he had a brief spell with only four appearances this campaign, Fulham’s relegation at the end of the season came as a blessing in disguise for Carvalho’s development.

The Portuguese prodigy shone in the 2021/22 Championship season, helping fire Fulham to the Premier League with 10 goals and 8 assists. Those performances saw Liverpool scout him as a potential Sadio Mané replacement.

Though Carvalho arrived at Anfield with big ambitions, he fell into a backup role behind Luis Díaz. A lack of game time as a substitute saw him seek two loans in the following season to find regular playing opportunities.

Once again, Carvalho was a major hit in the Championship. After joining Hull City on a winter loan, he registered 11 goal contributions for the Tigers before leaving at the end of the 2023/24 season.

Fábio Carvalho’s Championship heroics earned him another Premier League opportunity. But while the move from Liverpool to Brentford was supposed to be a fresh start, Carvalho’s spell at the Bees has been plagued by injuries.

The Portuguese midfielder has 6 goals and 4 assists for Brentford in 33 appearances across two seasons. While these numbers are impressive, most of them have come in Cup competitions.

Carvalho was sidelined for much of the 2025/26 campaign after picking up an ACL injury in November 2025. This summer offers a new opportunity for him to get his career back on track with a fresh transfer move.

Should Southampton make a move for Carvalho?

Southampton’s decision to pursue Fábio Carvalho is expected to be based on several factors. This includes the club’s fate if they win promotion and whether they need to replace major departures this summer.

It’s no secret that Saints attacking star Fin Azaz is on the radar of Premier League clubs. If Southampton are forced to let him go, Carvalho could become a viable option for the club.

Though Carvalho has sorely missed game time due to his long‑term ACL injury, his talent and Portuguese pedigree could tempt Southampton to invest in him to create another Mateus Fernandes‑like success story.

While this seems a fair consideration, Southampton’s long-held transfer interest in Carvalho could also affect a move. That’s because the player has been on the Saints’ radar several times previously.

Notably, Saints’ interest in Carvalho dates back to even before he joined Liverpool in the summer of 2022. A transfer defeat to the Reds didn’t destroy their hopes as they came close to signing him for the Championship in their 2023/24 Premier League promotion pursuit.

What’s interesting is that Southampton even submitted an official bid for Carvalho in the summer of 2024. However, Brentford outbid them with financial firepower to secure the deal.

Once again, Fábio Carvalho is on Southampton’s radar for a summer move. The upcoming weeks will be crucial to determine if the Saints try another serious pursuit for the midfielder this time around.