Liverpool can blame Chelsea and Man City for Romeo Lavia’s transfer hold-up
Just one week before the new Premier League season begins, Liverpool is faced with a huge transfer task.
Jordan Henderson and Fabinho’s exits have left the team without a veteran holding midfielder. Trent Alexander-Arnold and Curtis Jones were placed in the wrong positions during the preseason by Jurgen Klopp due to his need to improvise.
Since the scenario is far from ideal, Liverpool is actively trying to fill this squad vacancy. But time is running out before Liverpool’s season-opening match at Stamford Bridge against Chelsea in eight days.
Romeo Lavia in Southampton was one potential remedy mentioned earlier in the summer. The Belgian was chosen as Fabinho’s long-term replacement at Anfield.
According to the Liverpool Echo, Liverpool was initially turned off by Southampton’s £50 million asking price. Despite their reservations over the transfer fee, the Reds now prioritize Lavia more than they did before Fabinho and Henderson left.
Lavia has received two offers from Liverpool yet, but both fell short of Southampton’s asking price. A second bid for £41 million was submitted earlier this week after the initial offer of £34 million plus £4 million in add-ons.
Andre Trindade of Fluminense is now being looked at by the Anfield club as a potential replacement. It is still unclear whether talks with Southampton will result in a breakthrough, but Lavia is expected to play in the Saints’ Championship debut against Sheffield Wednesday in the interim.
Russell Martin, the manager of Southampton, has acknowledged that the situation is far from ideal. Do I believe Lavia and James Ward-Prowse will be playing for Southampton by the end of the transfer window? I’m at a loss for words. My hopes and my thoughts are probably extremely different from one another.
“However, it would be futile to publicly state whether I believe they will be present or not because, in the end, I truly have no influence over that. If one of them or both of them leave at some point, it will be because both the player and the club have experienced something that is advantageous to everyone.
“I believe that is why it has taken so long thus far, and I believe that it may still take a long time, but both of them, while they have been here, have been outstanding, at very different stages of their careers,” the author said.
It makes sense why Liverpool would be reluctant to spend £50 million on Lavia. The team has a history of being cautious when making expensive moves and favoring players with a lot of experience.
Despite his promise, the 19-year-old has only played in 36 senior games. The inclusion of a sell-on clause in Lavia’s transfer from Manchester City to Southampton last year is partially to blame for the disparity in valuation between Liverpool and Southampton.
Prices for midfielders have increased as a result of the moves of Enzo Fernandez to Chelsea, Jude Bellingham to Real Madrid, Declan Rice to Arsenal, and Mason Mount to Manchester United. Selling clubs might use these high-profile transactions as evidence to support their own demands.
Additionally, a seller’s market has been produced by the Saudi Pro League’s financial clout, which is supported by Newcastle United owners PIF. Liverpool benefited from this with the sale of Fabinho, but they are now dealing with the fallout when trying to make fresh signings.