€50m Liverpool transfer ‘one step away’ as talks for Klopp’s number one target ‘enter final stage’
According to reports, Southampton midfielder Romeo Lavia is now just ‘one step away’ from finalising his move to Premier League giants Liverpool.
The Reds have already splashed out around £95m to sign Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai from Brighton and RB Leipzig respectively.
They remain in the market for new midfielders following the exits of Jordan Henderson and Fabinho to the Saudi Pro League and Lavia is currently their main target.
A new defensive midfielder to replace Fabinho is their priority and Lavia is on their radar after he shone for Southampton last season.
He joined the Saints from Man City last summer and the youngster stood out in a poor team that were relegated to the Championship with a whimper.
Lavia has also been linked with Chelsea and Man Utd of late but Liverpool are leading the race to sign him from Southampton.
Southampton have been insistent that they want £50m for the 19-year-old and Liverpool’s opening £37m offer was rejected by the Championship side.
On Monday morning, the reliable Paul Joyce revealed that Liverpool’s second bid for Lavia is going to be ‘closer to Southampton’s valuation’.
Now Foot Mercato are reporting that Lavia’s move to Liverpool is just ‘one step away’ from being completed.
READ MORE: Saudi Arabia transfers… Henderson’s pitiful wage drops to third behind £30m Mahrez as Mane waits
Liverpool are reportedly firmly in ‘pole position’ to beat their rivals to Lavia. A deal ‘is being finalised’ as ‘all that is missing is an agreement between the two clubs’.
The report finishes by claiming that ‘the operation is expected to cost the Merseyside club around 50 million euros’.
Foot Mercato may be going a bit far by saying a deal is just ‘one step away’ but it certainly looks likely that Lavia will end up at Liverpool in the near future.
This update comes as Fabinho’s £40m move to Saudi side Al-Ettifaq was confirmed on Monday evening. After this announcement, the Brazil international posted his heartfelt farewell to Liverpool.
“Today I leave my home,” Fabinho said in a message posted to social media.
“It’s been five years wearing this jersey and always with the greatest honour and happiness possible.
“Thanks to Liverpool, I reached my highest level and played a World Cup. Thanks to Liverpool, I fulfilled my dream of walking into a stadium with my son in my arms.
“Thanks to Liverpool, I played in the best stadium in the world, with the best atmosphere in the world, which is Anfield.
“Thanks to Liverpool, I lived the biggest match of my life, the comeback against Barcelona, which was only possible thanks to Anfield. That moment will always be in my memory.
“I love this club. Thank you, Reds, for everything we’ve experienced together. You will never walk alone.”
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