Liverpool tipped to sign Klopp’s top target ‘by the weekend’ with them ‘closer’ to £50m ‘agreement’

According to reports, Liverpool could sign Southampton midfielder Romeo Lavia “by the weekend” with the two clubs just £4m apart in terms of valuation.
It looks likely that Lavia will be their third summer signing as he has been identified as Jurgen Klopp’s top target with them pursuing a replacement for Fabinho, who has secured a move to the Saudi Pro League.
Lavia enjoyed a breakout season for Southampton last season as he was one of their better performers as they suffered relegation from the Premier League.
The former Man City youngster was linked with Arsenal and Chelsea earlier this summer but Liverpool are leading the race to sign him.
The Reds have had multiple bids rejected for the 19-year-old, who is valued at £50m by Southampton.
Liverpool’s latest offer for Lavia was worth around £46m and The Athletic’s James Pearce stated via Twitter that they are “getting closer to an agreement” with Southampton.
Journalist Graeme Bailey has now predicted that this “deal gets done” as he believes Lavia will end up at Liverpool “by the weekend”.
“I think the deal gets done, they’re only £5million apart now with add-ons,” Bailey said on the 90min podcast. “They [Southampton] want £50million including add-ons, so it’s a bit easier to get to than just £50million flat. Not far away. I think this one could be done by the weekend.
“I don’t think he’ll feature in that game [vs Chelsea] but I think he could be a Liverpool player by that point.”
Liverpool reporter Neil Jones is reporting that a “compromise will be found” between the two clubs that will see Lavia complete his move to Anfield.
“Liverpool sources were saying earlier in the summer that £50m for Lavia was excessive, but that was before the departures of Fabinho and Jordan Henderson amplified their need for a midfielder,” Jones told Caught Offside.
“I get the impression that the club have looked at the market for potential No.6s/deep-lying midfielders and have not been too impressed, hence the fact they’ve circled back to Lavia.
“He’s certainly a gamble, given his age, the amount of games he’s played and the fact he’s a very different kind of player to Fabinho, more of a builder than a destroyer.
“The plus side is that he clearly has a high ceiling, his wages are relatively low and he wants to come to Liverpool. My feeling is that a compromise will be found, but it probably should have been found already.”