With the disappointment of the Champions League defeat to Real Madrid still lingering in the air around the club at Liverpool, they were still able to put a smile on fans faces with the impressive signing of Monaco midfielder Fabinho. Catching everyone awares as they purchased the defensive midfielder for a fee believed to be around £39million pounds, announced on Monday night.

The acquisition would have instantly boosted morale around Anfield following the pain of the Champions League final defeat on Saturday night, when a gulf in class in the midfield was clearly evident.

Yes certainly, they were up against the classy trio of Casemiro, Toni Kroos and Luka Modric who have played together for the best part of three seasons, however the midfield has clearly been identified as a weak point. Fans would have only imagined what would have been if Oxlade-Chamberlain had not been injured or even Philippe Coutinho had not departed Anfield when he did, maybe Liverpool would have put up more of a fight once Salah unfortunately went off injured but Klopp has addressed the deficiencies in midfield with the signing of Fabinho and Naby Keita due to arrive also.

If Liverpool’s apparent pursuit of Lyon’s playmaker Nabil Fekir proves successful then Liverpool could be looking at a formidable midfield – completely new, well balanced and a fluid axis for his preferred 4-3-3 formation next season. Before Liverpool fans can celebrate all that, some may not even know the qualities of Fabinho, one things for sure Klopp has made a clear statement of intent with this signing.

The Brazilian international, 24, will officially join the Champions League finalists on the July 1. A further £4m could be added in performance-related bonuses payments and his arrival is likely to be followed by the departure of German midfielder Emre Can to Juventus who’s contract runs out this summer.

Fabinho stated regarding the move; “This is something that I always wanted – this is a giant of a team. I am really excited.”

The Brazilian who emerged as one of the stars of the bright young Monaco team which set the French League and Europe alight capturing the title with ease from rivals Paris Saint Germain in the 2016/17 season. Players such as Kylian Mbappe, Bernardo Silva, Tiemoue Bakayoko and Benjamin Mendy and Thomas Lemar were part of that impressive squad plying their trade under the tutelage of Monaco coach Leonardo Jardim. Only the latter Thomas Lemar remains at the club after Fabinho’s departure. Previously linked with both Manchester clubs in the past – it was Jose Mourinho who granted Fabinho his top-flight debut at Real Madrid. There was also a reported last minute bid from Arsenal for Fabinho’s services which was turned down by the player.

But it is Liverpool who have secured his signature and it does seem a really good fit in foresight. Fabinho will be asked to hold the fort in front of the defence, a job he has done to such aplomb in Monaco. Having been compelled to introduce Adam Lallana and Emre Can from the bench against Real Madrid, Klopp will feel he has the numbers in abundance in the middle of the park with Fabinho, Keita, Henderson, Oxlade Chamberlain once he returns from injury, Giorgino Wijnaldum and James Milner; there will be plenty more quality to call upon especially when faced with difficult circumstances like in the final against Real Madrid.

Fabinho has filled transfer gossip columns for a number of seasons now, commonly described as a ball-winning midfielder of some repute, but it wasn’t always that way. Once a marauding right-back when he first joined the club from Real Madrid, it was not until the second part of the 2014/15 season that Leonardo Jardim deployed him as a defensive midfielder – which has later proved to be a masterstroke.

A 0-0 home draw with Paris Saint-Germain in 2015 was the start of his trade in the position which then followed an impressive performance against Arsenal at the Emirates in their 3-1 victory, which was the game that every football fan stood up and took notice of Jardim’s youthful Monaco side and Fabinho was central to everything – the glue that held every jigsaw of the squad together – the perfect balance in the whole team.

A quick look at Fabinho’s physique and presence, you can see why Jardim instead deployed him in midfield, at six foot two he always looked too tall and rangy for your modern day full-back who tend to be more quick agile against opposing wingers.

The Brazilian was a mainstay in Jardim’s 16/17 title winning team forming a formidable partnership with now-Chelsea player Tiemoue Bakayoko as the two deeper players in a 4-2-2-2 system. Bakayoko was seen as the more progressive of the two, rampaging from box-to-box while Fabinho held his position and orchestrated as the more static midfielder, sweeping up in front of his centre backs. His height and his style of play draws many comparisons with Steven Nzonzi of Sevilla or even that of Gilberto Silva.

Much of Fabinho’s best work is what you expect from a player blessed with his physical presence and abilities, and for one in his position. He ranked very highly in Ligue 1 last season for duel success, tackles won and aerial battles. Breaking up play, reading the game and screening his back four is Fabinho’s principal job but a lot of his on-the-ball qualities does regularly go unnoticed. Jardim’s Monaco is alike Klopp’s Liverpool in the way that they are so hell-bent on counter-attacking football which means getting the ball up to the attacking players with such speed and incisiveness once possession has been regained and Fabinho performs these qualities to great effect.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awHcYPpv8Hs

His days at right-back also meant he could carry the ball high-up the pitch, the license to roam which Jardim loves his full-backs to do, if you need examples just check out Benjamin Mendy and Djibril Sidibe in that 16/17 Monaco team. You only caught them defending when the team was up against it from a corner. Fabinho’s knowledge of that position can only add to Liverpool’s arsenal and grant them such versatility in the right-back position. An added bonus – Fabinho is also a great penalty taker, out of all the penalties he has taken for Monaco – being their assigned penalty taker – he only missed the once. Potent.

So where will Fabinho fit in next season for Klopp’s men? 

As the deepest midfielder in Klopp’s favored 4-3-3 formation, the one protecting and screening the back four and even orchestrating attacks from deep. Klopp may even opt for two holding midfielders and the prospect of both Keita and Fabinho in the midfield is of course a tantalizing prospect for both the German coach and Liverpool – that energy and dynamism will be so key as Liverpool strengthen their aspirations to be considered on par with champions Manchester City. Jordan Henderson and James Milner have performed admirably in the holding midfield role, but now Liverpool hold a specialist in the area who can cover much more space. That is vital given the numbers Liverpool commit when both attacking and pressing. The style which has such high-rewards but is not without its risks, placing the defenders so high up the pitch doing their dirty work in isolation.

Fabinho has shown he can cope in these circumstances and his strong presence will allow Liverpool’s full-backs to press on without worrying about their defensive duties with both Fabinho and Keita having the legs to cover and to thwart the space opponents may try and utilize on the counter. While Fabinho may not add any creativity like a Lallana or a Oxlade-Chamberlain, he will add a lot more control and authority in possession. The reason Liverpool’s play seems such helter-skelter at times is that the midfield do not hold such possessiveness of the ball as they are supposed to. The presence of Fabinho will allow Liverpool to be more patient and potent in possession, picking their passes in the final third to much more effect when the opposing defence is defending deep.

Fabinho’s arrival shows Klopp will not allow the grass to grow under Liverpool’s feet as he tries to claim his first trophy with the club next season. One things for certain, the signing of Fabinho is massive statement of intent for Liverpool. Klopp and his men mean business.