Liverpool have moved quickly in the summer transfer window to sign Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai with Southampton’s Romeo Lavia thought to be next on their shopping list
Liverpool have their sights set on their third transfer of the summer window as they prepare an official bid for Southampton star Romeo Lavia.
Jurgen Klopp has already made two additions to his midfield this summer, with Alexis Mac Allister joining from Brighton and Dominik Szoboszlai arriving from RB Leipzig. However, with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Naby Keita, James Milner and Arthur Melo all leaving the club, the Reds boss is keen to add more bodies to his squad.
According to talkSPORT (via the Mirror), Liverpool are set to make an opening bid for 19-year-old Lavia, who is valued at £50million by Southampton. The Anfield side are said to be facing competition from Chelsea for the ex-Manchester City player.
Lavia made 29 appearances for relegated Southampton last season, scoring his first senior goal in August in a 2-1 victory over Chelsea. His last Premier League game for the Saints came against Liverpool, with the midfielder playing the majority of the absorbing 4-4 draw.
Premier League champions City insisted on inserting a 20% sell-on clause in the deal that took Lavia to Southampton last year. Pep Guardiola’s side also have a buy-back option for the Belgium international which comes into effect in 2024.
Szoboszlai has joined Liverpool for around £60m, having helped RB Leipzig secure Champions League football last season. Klopp is now seemingly keen to add Lavia to his midfield ranks, with the youngster seen as a potential long-term replacement for the departed Oxlade-Chamberlain.
The Liverpool boss will be hoping that the additions of Mac Allister and Szoboszlai can help the Reds return to the top four after they finished four points outside the Champions League places last season.
On Szoboszlai, Klopp said: “I’m pretty sure he was still a teenager at that time and since then he has made some big strides – moving to Leipzig, doing really, really well in the Bundesliga, playing for the Hungary national team and then becoming captain of his national team at an incredibly young age.
“These are proper positives and this is even before we even think about his qualities as a footballer. I will not say too much about them at this stage except they are definitely the kind which will hopefully bring a lot of enjoyment and also help us to get results.
“There is no pressure, though. Dominik is still a very young player. He has so much development ahead of him and this means it makes sense for us all to be patient and to give him the time and space to allow his talent to come through within our team.”
