Welcome to the Liverpool.com daily Media Digest. From transfers to tweets, it can be hard to keep up with everything going on in the Anfield sphere. Credible, incredible and anything in between: we round it all up in one place here, taking a sideways look at the day’s media goings-on from around the world.
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Bayern Munich refuse to give up on Fabinho deal
Bayern Munich has hatched a 'secret plan' to snap up Fabinho if his move to Al-Ittihad breaks down, according to Sky Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg.
Fabinho is said to be 'on the verge' of moving to the Saudi Pro League club, with Liverpool hoping that the transfer is completed this weekend. But Bayern believes it's not out of the realms of possibility that the deal will collapse, and plans to 'get in touch' with Liverpool if so.
READ MORE: Perfect end to Jürgen Klopp transfer window mapped out as $55m man 'wants' Liverpool move
READ MORE: Liverpool transfer news amid Joshua Kimmich 'bid' claim as Jürgen Klopp 'wants' $64m signing
Fabinho isn't necessarily the 'top target' for the Bundesliga champion but he does match Thomas Tuchel's preferred 'physical profile' and could be another Premier League option in addition to Harry Kane and Kyle Walker.
It's been reported (by Kicker via FourFourTwo) that the Bavarians could be willing to sell one of their current defensive midfielders in Joshua Kimmich if they receive an offer in the region of $66m (£51m/€59m), and Fabinho may have been identified as a potential replacement.
While the Brazilian struggled for much of last season, he's been widely regarded as one of the best number sixes in world football in recent years. A Champions League winner with Liverpool in 2019, he made the competition's best XI last year after helping his side reach the final.
Layton Stewart seals Liverpool exit
Liverpool forward Layton Stewart has completed his move to Preston North End, the club has confirmed.
We relayed the news from the ECHO on Saturday morning that Liverpool was in talks with Preston over a permanent transfer, which is why Stewart was left out of the under-21 squad for Friday's friendly against Kidderminster Harriers.
That transfer has now gone through, with the 20-year-old inking a three-year contract on his arrival at Deepdale.
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Stewart becomes the second player to be sold by Liverpool this summer after midfielder Leighton Clarkson was offloaded to Aberdeen following a season-long loan spell.
He will link up with Reds loanee Calvin Ramsay in Lancashire, along with another academy graduate in Ben Woodburn.
Stewart's one and only competitive outing for Liverpool's senior team came in the Carabao Cup third-round tie against Derby County last season.
He was prolific at under-18 level, scoring 27 times in 25 appearances, and also put up strong numbers for the under-21s (16 in 34).
The hope will be that he can now make the step up to the men's level and launch his own career away from Merseyside.
Stewart wrote on Instagram when the deal was confirmed: "To Liverpool, where do I start… today is the day I say goodbye to the club that I’ve been at for the last 16 years of my life, this club has been all that I’ve known — but now I think it’s time for me to take the next step in my career.
"I think it’s time for me to take the next step in my career. What a journey it has been, from signing for Liverpool at the age of five, with a dream of playing for the first team, to then getting the chance to make my debut at Anfield! With everything else along the way — I will hold these memories and feelings close for the rest of my career.
"I wanted to say a massive thank you to everyone involved with the club; from the coaching team, to the medical team and also the kitchen staff, both past and present, I would like to thank all the fans who have supported me during my time.
"And lastly to my team-mates, the ones I’ve lived this journey with every day, it’s been a pleasure and I’ve made friends and memories for life I want to wish you all the best of luck for the future and I’m sure our paths will cross again on the pitch! Thank you, Reds."
