Klopp drops fresh transfer hint with Liverpool ‘still looking’ to fill key position amid Lavia links
Jurgen Klopp has confirmed that Liverpool are still on the hunt for a new holding midfielder as the new Premier League season draws closer.
As Liverpool have lost the likes of Jordan Henderson and Fabinho, they are looking particularly short in midfield.
While they have signed Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai, the Reds are in need of a defensive-minded midfielder to complement these attacking options.
Liverpool remain keen on Southampton’s Romeo Lavia, with a deal for the 19-year-old said to be edging closer.
Klopp has touched on the transfer speculation in a recent press conference and he also discussed using Curtis Jones in a deeper role.
“I think it is no secret that we are still looking for players to join us,” Klopp explained. “Curtis can absolutely play that position.
“Can he play it when nobody else is defending in the team? No chance. But then I don’t know any player that could play it then.
“A proven No. 6 is not available in the moment. If we make an excuse of that and think say ‘OK, how can we do that then?’, then we have a problem.
“If you see it as a positive challenge, try to find a way to be compact already – or even more so – or to find a way to deny the opponent. If you do that together, it’s always possible.”
Lavia would be a good signing for Liverpool, although they don’t want to overspend on the Southampton midfielder.
“I’m aware there have been reports of Man United also showing an interest in Romeo Lavia in midfield, but I’m not aware of any concrete negotiation between United and Lavia at the moment,” Romano told Caught Offside.
“They’ve been looking at him as a top talent, but at the moment there’s nothing else in terms of negotiations or bids.
“Liverpool, meanwhile, will bid again for Lavia and it’s likely to be this week. I expect the bid to be in the region of £45m after an initial £37m bid sent days ago and rejected by Southampton. Liverpool will push again as they believe Lavia is the perfect target for present and future.”
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