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Liverpool have reportedly had a proposal of £60 million approved by Southampton for midfielder Romeo Lavia. However, the Reds must still compete with the Blues for his signature.
The 19-year-old is likely to leave Russell Martin’s team once the Saints are out to the Championship for the 2023-24 season.
Lavia failed to make the cut at Manchester City and moved to Southampton for £10.6 million in 2022, where he contributed one goal and one assist in 34 games in his rookie season.
The international player from Belgium’s four-year contract with Southampton expires in the summer. However, a transfer is may occur if a potential buyer meets his £50 million asking price.
Liverpool reportedly want to increase their offer to £55 million to get the Belgian superstar. However, it is believed that the Reds have instead made a £60 million offer.
Southampton accepted the bid from Merseyside rivals Liverpool, who had previously refused to break the £45m barrier, although the midfielder’s mooted move to Anfield is far from a formality.
Liverpool want a midfielder from Southampton after Caicedo’s refusal
After missing out on Moises Caicedo of Brighton & Hove Albion, who plans to join Chelsea in a British record $115 million transfer, Liverpool are increasing their interest in Lavia.
The Reds had secured an agreement with Brighton to recruit the Ecuadorian for £110 million, but Chelsea increased their nine-figure bid after finding that Caicedo wanted to transfer to Stamford Bridge.
While Chelsea are busting the bank to recruit the former Independiente del Valle player, Mauricio Pochettino’s Tottenham Hotspur are hoping to hijack Liverpool’s bid for Lavia, who was reportedly the subject of a £55 million approach from Chelsea last week.
In yet another potential setback for Jurgen Klopp, the report claims that Lavia is considering a move to Chelsea, but the German will fight tooth and nail to keep him at Anfield as they need seek a new number six.
Fabinho left Liverpool after five years to join Al-Ittihad in a £40 million transfer earlier this summer, while 18-year-old pupil Stefan Bajcetic is still recovering from an adductor injury.
Jordan Henderson, Leighton Clarkson, Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, and James Milner have all moved on, while Thiago Alcantara is out with a hip injury.
As a result, Klopp was compelled to field an attack-minded midfield of Alexis MacAllister, Dominik Szoboszlai, and Cody Gakpo against Chelsea on Sunday, where Axel Disasi cancelled out Luis Diaz’s strike.
The Reds replaced Curtis Jones in the second half to provide more midfield stability, but Klopp’s team only had 34.6% of the ball at Stamford Bridge, their lowest possession percentage against the Blues since Premier League records began in 2003-04.
Klopp’s side are hoping to have Lavia on board in time for their second Premier League match of the season, which is against Bournemouth at home next Saturday.
