Updated 14 Aug 2023 4:52 pm:
Liverpool have today agreed a fee of £60 million for Southampton Midfielder, Romeo Lavia. The 19-year-Old Belgian has long been admired by the Reds who have now managed to find an agreement with the South Coast Club.
Lavia had been the subject of 3 previously rejected bids from the Merseysiders, but following the club losing out on Moises Caicedo and knowing of a potential offer from Chelsea in the region of £55 million, (£3 million of which being performance-based add-ons) for Lavia, Liverpool have seemingly felt it imperative to get back to the table with Lavia.
Chelsea has long been admirers of Lavia, pre-dating Liverpool’s interest, however, Liverpool had been the most proactive during the Summer, with regards to talks with Southampton. Talks became stale and somewhat drawn-out, leaving Southampton frustrated and with a player in the wrong frame of mind to be considered for match-day squads. Southampton got in contact with their former and Chelsea’s new Director of Recruitment, Joe Shields, re-energizing Chelsea’s interest and has subsequently led to talks over placing a bid. This was no act of gamesmanship, as Chelsea are looking for 2 defensive midfielders, following Moises Caicedo, Lavia would represent the final piece in the midfield Jigsaw.
With Liverpool now agreeing on a deal, talks will commence throughout today with Lavia and his team, who had been under the impression Chelsea was now his likely destination, to convince the 19-year-old that Merseyside is the place for him to succeed and develop. The player had reiterated his desire to join Liverpool throughout the summer, with reports from Belgian reporter Sacha Tavolieri suggesting the player had wanted to join Liverpool and he was their preference, however recent reports, closer to home have suggested Lavia now would like a move to Stamford Bridge.
Much is to be done, in what has become a messy transfer window, for Liverpool. Agreeing a fee is a big step in the right direction, however, hesitancy in the weeks preceding could well be the undoing of this deal being completed.
Chelsea and Liverpool played out a 1-1 draw yesterday at Stamford Bridge, the need for a controller, destroyer, a number 6, was glaringly obvious for the visitors, an issue that, whilst being coy, was touched upon by Klopp “These specific players, you can see in the moment the market is obviously crazy. It’s no secret that we are looking for something like that.’”
The German coach, perhaps, allowed his frustrations with the current transfer situation to show when Pochettino’s desire for more players was posed, ‘That’s what every Chelsea manager wants and usually they get it,’ he added. ‘I have nothing to say about that, to be honest.’
Supporters have grown frustrated and concerned over a glaring need not yet being addressed, and subsequent moves proving unsuccessful. Liverpool will not want to be found short and will look to conclude a deal for Lavia throughout today and tomorrow. The club have a desire too, for a ball-playing Centre-back, however, the clubs pressing need for a defensive midfielder has taken Centre stage in the drama that has become of this transfer window.
Jamie Brown
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