Jürgen Klopp expects Fabinho to be fit for the Champions League final despite the Liverpool midfielder sustaining a hamstring injury during Tuesday's win over Aston Villa.
The 28-year-old will miss Saturday's FA Cup final with Chelsea and the two remaining Premier League games of the season against Southampton and Wolves as a result of a strain to his left hamstring. However, he should recover to face Real Madrid in Paris on May 28th.
Klopp said: “There’s a good chance that he will be available for the Champions League final.”
Although Fabinho’s absence is undoubtedly a setback to Liverpool’s FA Cup and title prospects, their manager believes his squad will handle the loss.
Klopp, who replaced Fabinho with Jordan Henderson to good effect against Villa, said: "We have to cope, because we can cope. Having him or not having him is a difference but it is all fine. That's normal stuff that happens. It's never in a position where you have 12 options, it's always in a position where you don't. We have a few players. Hendo came on and played incredible. He has played super games this season at 6 so that is not a problem."
Meanwhile, Erik ten Hag will push to make Barcelona’s Frenkie de Jong one of his first signings at Manchester United. The pair worked together for a year and a half at Ajax, the club Ten Hag is leaving for Old Trafford this month.
Contact has been made between the parties but no agreement is close. Barcelona’s financial troubles could make them willing to entertain offers of at least €70 million, although Ten Hag would have to persuade De Jong of the merits of joining United given that the midfielder regards competing in the Champions League as a priority.
De Jong said in February that he hoped to stay at Barcelona “for many more years”, describing it as a dream to have signed, even though he admitted he would have liked to have won more trophies. The manager, Xavi Hernández, would like the 25-year-old to continue at the club.
Barcelona are poised to raise funds through the sale of Philippe Coutinho, having agreed a €20 million deal with Aston Villa for the Brazilian, who has been on loan at the Premier League club since January.
De Jong, a Netherlands international, has started 29 of the 32 La Liga games for which he has been available this season. He has scored three goals and provided three assists in those matches.
United have reached an agreement for Mitchell van der Gaag, Ten Hag’s assistant at Ajax, to join the club, and there remains the possibility that Steve McClaren could be added to the coaching staff.
Ajax have confirmed that Alfred Schreuder will join from Club Brugge to replace Ten Hag as manager on a two-year contract.
– Guardian
