Romano reveals Liverpool phone call on Friday over £50m transfer after Reds fail ‘secret job’

Liverpool made a phone call to Southampton about a potential transfer for Romeo Lavia on Friday after Chelsea made a new bid, according to Fabrizio Romano.

Jurgen Klopp confirmed in his press conference on Friday that Liverpool had made a move for Moises Caicedo with reports claiming a bid of around £110m had been accepted.

However, it was later revealed that the Ecuador international has told the Reds that ‘he only wants to join’ Chelsea this summer with the Blues lining up a fresh bid of their own.

Liverpool have also been competing with Chelsea for Southampton midfielder Lavia –  who is valued at £50m – as they look to find at least one replacement for Jordan Henderson and Fabinho, who both moved to Saudi Arabia earlier this summer.

Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai came in earlier this summer to cover the losses of Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and James Milner, with the trio leaving on free transfers.

Liverpool have made a number of bids to Southampton for Belgium international Lavia but have so far been unsuccessful and they risk losing out to Chelsea for him too.

READ MORE: Even if they ‘hijack’ Liverpool’s ‘hijack’, Chelsea have embarrassed themselves with Caicedo chase

And transfer expert Romano has revealed that Liverpool are still interested in signing Lavia, with a call made to the Saints last night, despite failing to meet Southampton’s asking price so far.

Romano wrote in his Caught Offside column: “The story of the day on Friday was Harry Kane to Bayern but the Moises Caicedo saga has been just, if not more, crazy. As of the time of writing, Chelsea are currently in contact with Brighton in order to bid again for Caicedo.

“So let’s wait for that step, as it is a crucial one. Caicedo wants to go to Chelsea, he said that to Liverpool directly and in a very clear way on Friday around lunchtime, when it seemed that everything was set for him to join Jurgen Klopp’s squad.

“So that’s why Chelsea are now working on a club-to-club agreement after weeks of negotiations. I think Chelsea were sure that they would be the only ones working on this deal, but Liverpool’s ‘secret job’ was excellent. In the end, it’s always the player’s preference to make the difference.

“Chelsea have also sent a new bid on Friday night to Southampton for Romeo Lavia, but again let’s wait for Caicedo before seeing the end of the Lavia story because Liverpool also called Southampton on Friday afternoon regarding the 19-year-old.

“Chelsea consider Lavia a separate deal from Caicedo, but Liverpool have been in the mix all day too. Southampton will not sell Lavia for less than £50m, they’ve been clear on that.”