Journalist Jacob Tanswell has backed highly-rated young Southampton midfielder Romeo Lavia to end up at Liverpool this summer.
The Reds are having a productive summer transfer window currently, already making notable additions to their midfield – something that has been hugely needed.
Alexis Mac Allister has already sealed a summer move to Anfield from Brighton, and it also looks as though RB Leipzig star Dominik Szoboszlai could be the next man in, with Liverpool reportedly triggering his release clause.
Another midfielder who has been continually linked with a move to Merseyside is Lavia, who stood out as arguably Southampton’s best player last season.
Saints may have been relegated from the Premier League, following a deeply disappointing campaign, but the 19-year-old did his best to keep them in the division, starting 26 league matches and featuring in another three games.
Speaking to Empire of the Kop, Tanswell claimed that Liverpool still appear to be Lavia’s most “likely destination” before the start of next season:
“Southampton want a high figure for him. Someone has got to pay around £45m-£50m for Lavia. Who can do that is dependent on all the other targets they get.
“Liverpool or Chelsea. I probably think Liverpool, with Jurgen Klopp and with the background [work] they’ve done on him, that probably looks the likely destination.”
Our thoughts on Liverpool’s pursuit of Lavia…
Should Szoboszlai come in and join Mac Allister in Liverpool’s midfield this summer, Lavia could potentially be the best option to complete the Reds’ transformation in the middle of the park.
He has already more than held his own in the Premier League – something that the likes of Khephren Thuram, Mane Kone and Ryan Gravenberch haven’t done – while Pep Guardiola has admitted he is “really impressed” by what the former Manchester City midfielder is achieving.
At just 19, Lavia could be seen as the future at Liverpool, initially coming in as a squad player who battles others for minutes, before eventually being Fabinho’s replacement in the deep-lying No. role.
Granted, it could be argued that someone like Thuram is a more experienced option who could be ready to excel from the off, but Lavia is a wonderful option in his own right.
