The Portuguese under-21 is one of the stars of the Reds’ pre-season tour of the United States with objectives opposite to Manchester United and Arsenal after a successful loan at Hull City.
Carvalho has been a standout figure in Liverpool’s transatlantic adventure thanks to the absences of Cody Gakpo, Diogo Jota and Luis Diaz in Euro 2024 and Copa America commitments, and his performances have earned him praise from Slot.
Liverpool have rejected a £15m offer from Southampton for the former Fulham protégé, but a £27. 5m offer from Brentford, with the addition of a £17. 5m sale clause, proved too smart to refuse.
As Carvalho prepares to complete his move to the Gtech Community Stadium, he is nowhere to be found as Liverpool concluded pre-season with two friendlies against Sevilla and Las Palmas at Anfield.
Speaking to reporters at the post-match press conference, Slot said he had been informed of an agreement, hence his decision not to choose Carvalho, although he did not communicate this to him through the club.
“From what I’ve been told, there’s an agreement, but I haven’t spoken to our club. Today I have been completely focused on this match, so I don’t know exactly what its status is, but that is of course the explanation for why it was not decided today,” said Slot.
Although the Dutchman admitted that Liverpool had not informed him of Carvalho’s departure, the Reds agreed on their website, stating: “The striker was not included in the squad for the Anfield matches against Sevilla and Las Palmas after “The Reds will reach an agreement with another club for his transfer. “
Carvalho is expected to complete his move to Brentford on Monday and will leave Liverpool with three goals in 21 competitive appearances, all of them in his first campaign in 2022-23.
Liverpool signed the 21-year-old from Fulham for just £5m and will make a significant profit from his sale, while Fulham are also expected to make 20% of any profit above that value via a sell clause.
A Reds team without Carvalho made simple pictures of Sevilla in the first friendly of the day, crushing the Spanish giants 4-1 in front of a packed crowd thanks to goals from Díaz (two), Jota and teenage star Trey NyoniArray.
Anfield then closed for the second exhibition match against Las Palmas, which ended goalless, and Slot asked about the option of new additions in the coming weeks amid his link with Martín Zubimendi from Real Sociedad.
“I think that, as a club like us, we are looking to strengthen the team. But it’s not so easy to strengthen the team if you look at today’s two games,” said the former Feyenoord coach.
“I have already said several times that I have inherited a very strong team and that if we can and if we believe it is possible, we will be the team. But only if we believe we can and if we can. “
Liverpool have days of rest and recovery ahead of their 2024-25 Premier League opener, which will take place at Ipswich Town’s Portman Road on Saturday lunchtime.