Liverpool’s initial bid of £37 million for the services of 19-year-old Southampton midfielder Romeo Lavia has been rejected.
According to the Athletic, Liverpool are keen on having Romeo Lavia in their ranks ahead of next season and submitted their first official bid for the Southampton midfielder earlier today. But it has been rejected by the Saints as they look for a much better offer.
The 19-year-old defensive midfielder has made quite a name for himself with impressive performances in the 2022-23 season and he has been on the wishlist of the Merseyside club for a while now.
Finally, Jurgen Klopp’s team placed an official bid worth £37 million for the services of the Belgian international. However, it has been rejected by the Saints who have submitted a counter-offer according to Tavolieri.
Lavia was a part of Anderlecht’s youth academy before joining Manchester City’s youth squad. While he came through the ranks at City, the 19-year-old could only feature in two matches for their first team.
He joined Southampton on a permanent basis ahead of the 2022-23 season. The Belgian international featured in a total of 34 matches for the Saints’ first team in his very first team and racked up close to 2500 minutes. The defensive midfielder even contributed towards two goals.
While the teenage sensation did his bid he couldn’t help Southampton avoid relegation. And, with the Saints relegated to the second division, he is likely to be offloaded.
While he has a contract until the summer of 2027, the Saints are ready to let go of their star player. They are in need of financial aid in order to deal with the loss incurred because of the drop and they will look to sell him to the highest bidder.
His departure will bring in a decent sum that will help them rebuild their team as well as regulate their finances. Meanwhile, Liverpool are keen on having him in their ranks as they look to complete a midfield overhaul.
The Merseyside club are all set to part ways with Fabinho and Jordan Henderson as the duo will be joining Saudi Pro League club. Their departure will result in a huge void in the centre of the park. And, they are looking to fill it by signing young players with huge potential.
Lavia fits the bill and he could help cope with Fabinho’s absence. While the teenager is not yet a finished product, he could surely be a great addition to their ranks for the future.
With their £37 million bid rejected, Liverpool are looking to close the deal at around £40 million but the Saints are looking for more. The clubs are still in talks and negotiations are expected to carry on in the coming weeks. As a result, it will be interesting how the Reds respond to their counteroffer.
