As talks continue to hit roadblocks in the pursuit of Romeo Lavia, Liverpool is now encountering competition from fellow Premier League contenders in the race to secure the midfielder’s signature.
Throughout the summer, Liverpool has been actively pursuing Southampton’s midfielder, making three unsuccessful bids thus far. The latest offer, valued at up to £46 million, was rejected. Notably, Lavia was absent from Southampton’s EFL Cup match against Gillingham on Tuesday, amid reports suggesting he was eager to finalize a move to Anfield.
While Southampton remains steadfast in their £50 million valuation of Lavia, Chelsea has entered the picture. According to The Athletic’s David Ornstein, Chelsea submitted a £48 million bid on Wednesday night. The Blues have also been engaged in a protracted pursuit of Brighton’s Moises Caicedo. The Guardian now reports that there is optimism within Mauricio Pochettino’s camp about potentially securing both midfielders for Stamford Bridge this summer.
Liverpool now finds itself in need of a swift response to retain the Belgian midfielder, as there is a genuine risk that he might opt for a move to a rival Premier League club. Chelsea’s timely bid is likely fueled by the gradual pace of negotiations, with Lavia seen as a complement to Caicedo rather than a mere alternative.
This situation is a setback for Liverpool, which is still grappling with the absence of a recognized defensive midfielder following Fabinho’s departure last month. Chelsea’s interest could also be interpreted as a tactic to apply pressure on Brighton in their pursuit of Caicedo. Acquiring both midfielders at significant costs represents a considerable amount of transfer activity for the month of August.
As Liverpool prepares to kick off their Premier League season against Chelsea on Sunday, they find themselves having only secured two midfield signings in the transfer window thus far. The departures of James Milner, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Naby Keita, Fabinho, and Jordan Henderson have left the squad with notable gaps.
While the outcome of Liverpool’s pursuit of Lavia remains uncertain, the stalled negotiations have not only left the squad short-handed but have also attracted interest from other potential suitors.
