Liverpool are reportedly set to table yet another improved offer for Southampton prodigy Romeo Lavia after their third bid of up to £46 million was rejected on Monday.
According to Rudy Galetti, Liverpool have been pushing to sign an additional midfielder over the last few weeks at Anfield and could return with another offer for priority target Romeo Lavia, having come so close already to meeting Southampton’s valuation in their latest bid.
The Reds saw a third bid — mooted to be in the region of £46 million — turned down by Southampton for the midfielder on Monday. The Saints are holding out for £50 million despite their relegation from the Premier League.
Liverpool desperately needed midfield reinforcements this summer, with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Naby Keita, and James Milner leaving the club upon their contract expiration, followed by the surprise departures of Jordan Henderson and Fabinho, both of whom moved to Saudi Arabia, lured by the much-publicised gold rush.
Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister have both arrived through the door at Anfield, But there is no doubt Jurgen Klopp will be wanting more reinforcements in the engine room. Southampton midfielder Lavia has been strongly linked with a move to Merseyside and is unsurprisingly keen on a return to the Premier League after suffering relegation to the Championship.
🚨🔥 #Liverpool keep pushing for Romeo #Lavia.
‼️ #LFC are on the verge to make another new attempt for the 🇧🇪 player: #Southampton want ~£50m to start evaluating any proposal. 🐓⚽ #Transfers pic.twitter.com/rswlhIVHpa
— Rudy Galetti (@RudyGaletti) August 8, 2023
Lavia joined the South Coast outfit last summer from Manchester City for a fee that could rise to £14 million after impressing during his formative years in the academy at the reigning Premier League champions.
The youthful midfielder enjoyed a breakthrough season in the English top-flight, making 29 Premier League appearances, but was unable to prevent the Saints from succumbing to relegation. But despite their relegation from the top flight, the Championship outfit looks set to make a large profit.
The Saints are really digging their heels in terms of their £50 million asking price for their prized asset. Talks between the two clubs are ongoing. But it remains to be seen if a compromise will be reached. The Merseysiders must act as fast as possible to complete this signing.
It is also worth noting that the 19-year-old has just roughly 2,000 minutes of Premier League experience and that he was initially pursued as an understudy for now-departed Fabinho, with question marks as to whether the youngster has the consistency to start and perform every week for a side with a top-four finish as the minimum target.
Also Read: Liverpool 2023/24 Premier League Season Preview
So, it will be intriguing to see if the hierarchy decides to sign another defensive midfielder with experience covering the position. But many will be sceptical of Liverpool’s summer recruitment and midfield rebuild if it ends with only Lavia brought through the door between now and the end of the summer transfer window.
Please Liverpool my favorite club should make us proud, let them go for a consistent defensive midfield player that has the ability to match club like city, like sucedo of briton
We need to compete with man city, and can’t do it with average players, we need quelity players. YNWA