Fabinho has been left out of the Liverpool squad for their pre-season trip to Singapore with the midfielder expected to complete his switch to Saudi Arabian side Al Ittihad.
The move had been in jeopardy earlier in the week as talks stalled over the payment structure of the transfer.
However, negotiations have since resumed with all parties committed to getting the deal done.
The Brazil international was targeted in a £40million ($52m) package by Al Ittihad, as Saudi Pro League sides continue their summer of spending after the country’s Public Investment Fund took control of the four biggest clubs.
Al Ittihad’s bid to recruit Fabinho saw him left out of manager Jurgen Klopp’s squad for a summer training camp in Germany, from which they returned to the UK on Monday.
They fly to Singapore on Thursday and the week-long trip will see them play friendlies against Leicester City and Bayern Munich.
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As well as Fabinho, Thiago Alcantara and Stefan Bajcetic are also missing from 27-man squad for the trip with the duo staying on Merseyside to continue rehabilitation on injuries.
Liverpool have lined up Southampton’s Romeo Lavia as Fabinho’s replacement. Their initial bid of £37m for the Belgium international was rejected but talks between the clubs are ongoing with confidence that a compromise can be reached.
It had been rumoured that the deal could be scuppered by an apparent rule in Saudi Arabia banning the breed of dogs Fabinho owns. However, any doubt over the move had nothing to do with his two French bulldogs.
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Liverpool are also set to lose captain Jordan Henderson to Al Ettifaq and have been exploring a number of potential midfield options.
As well as Lavia, the Merseyside club have been interested in Crystal Palace’s Cheick Doucoure, Fiorentina’s Sofyan Amrabat, Bayern Munich’s Ryan Gravenberch and Manchester City’s Kalvin Phillips.
Liverpool’s midfield is already undergoing a considerable refresh this summer, with Alexis Mac Allister signed from Brighton and Dominik Szoboszlai arriving from RB Leipzig.
James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain left at the end of their contracts in June while Fabio Carvalho has joined RB Leipzig on a season-long loan.
Fabinho was once again a key player for Jurgen Klopp last season making 49 appearances in all competitions.
Al Ittihad, meanwhile, have already signed former Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kante and former Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema, as well as Jota, who arrived from Celtic earlier this month.
(Photo: Michael Regan/Getty Images)
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