Southampton midfielder Romeo Lavia has told Liverpool that he wants to join them before the end of the transfer window, according to reports.
The Reds have already signed Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai in an effort to boost their midfield quality this summer after many of the club’s problems last season were put down to that area of the pitch.
Those signings made up for the losses of Naby Keita, James Milner and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain but Jurgen Klopp will now have to go back into the transfer market for more midfielders with Jordan Henderson and Fabinho set to leave.
Henderson has reportedly reached an agreement with Saudi Pro League side Al-Ettifaq on a contract worth £700,000 a week
The Liverpool captain has not officially left yet but it’s believed to be a matter of time, while there are also reports that his team-mate Fabinho is the subject of interest from Al-Ittihad, who have already signed N’Golo Kante and Karim Benzema this summer.
Liverpool reportedly gave Fabinho permission to speak to Al-Ittihad earlier this month after accepting a £40m bid for their
And Liverpool have reportedly made Southampton’s Lavia their top midfield target with Sky Germany journalist Florian Plettenberg claiming that the Belgium international has given the Reds the “green light” to pursue a deal.
Plettenberg wrote on Twitter: “News Romeo #Lavia: Understand that #LFC is the top favourite now! Lavia wants to join Liverpool and has given the green light! No agreement between the clubs yet but concrete negotiations are ongoing His price valuation was around £50m. #Klopp wants him!”
And that comes after Spanish publication Fichajes revealed Liverpool’s apparent ‘initial offer’ for Lavia with the 19-year-old their ‘next target in the transfer market’.
It is understood that Liverpool are ‘willing to make an offer that would go up to €30m (£26m)’ despite the Saints looking for almost double that amount.
The Reds are ‘not the only club’ in for Lavia with Manchester City also ‘seeking the signing’ while Arsenal have been heavily linked for months.
And that competition means Liverpool ‘wants to hurry as much as possible’ and get a deal for Lavia over the line before rival clubs can hijack a deal.
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