Italian transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano has reported that Liverpool will continue their efforts to sign Southampton midfielder Romeo Lavia with the young midfielder keen on a move to the Merseyside club.
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Other Premier League Clubs Tracking Lavia
As is common with a player of Lavia’s quality, Liverpool are not alone in their pursuit of his services. A champion of the Developmental U23 League when he was with City’s academy, Lavia, despite Southampton’s relegation last season, already has a winning mindset that is attracting interest.
The Daily Mail reports that Manchester United have thrown their hat into the ring to try and snatch the midfielder away from their rivals, although their pursuit of Sofyan Amrabat seems to be a priority.
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Lavia’s former club, Manchester City, have a buy-back clause which activates next summer, allowing Pep Guardiola’s side to purchase the Belgian at an exclusive price of £40 million, however, should the 19-year-old move this summer, the Citizens will miss out on that option.
Chelsea are another club that have been linked with the young Belgian and could make a move for the player as Mauricio Pochettino looks to bolster his midfield ranks following the departures of N’Golo Kante, Mateo Kovacic, Mason Mount and Ruben Loftus-Cheek.
Liverpool Not Giving Up on Lavia
Club officials made the decision last week to extend their pursuit of the Belgian youngster, according to Romano, and are “now ready” to submit an improved bid for the Belgian international after their first two bids were rejected
Romano’s report confirms that the player and his camp have approved a move to the club with the player himself giving the move the “green light”.
The Reds will hope to make an offer that cannot be turned down, in order to secure the signature of a rising star with Premier League experience. That bid would have to be closer to the rumoured £50 million fee Saints are holding out for despite only paying £12 million to Manchester City for the teenager a year ago.
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The 19-year-old hit the ground running in his debut season on the South coast, showing his ability to start regularly in the Premier League whilst earning a first cap for the Belgium national team.
The Manchester City academy graduate has shown exceptional composure and passing ability during his short spell at St Mary’s, as well as being an excellent defensive presence. He shows great patience on the ball and stays active to create passing options when his teammates have possession, and Jurgen Klopp’s side seems fully aware that Lavia is a young and budding talent that is worth paying a substantial price for.
Main image credit: Cchana, Flickr , CC BY-SA 2.0
