Liverpool ‘closest’ club to sign Southampton midfielder Romeo Lavia

Liverpool are interested in signing Southampton’s Romeo Lavia in the summer, with Jurgen Klopp a big admirer of the young midfielder’s talents.

Romeo Lavia, 19, joined Southampton from Manchester City last summer and has been a rare bright spark in an otherwise dismal campaign that has ended in relegation from the Premier League. The midfielder has made 32 appearances in all competitions, registering a goal and an assist.

Despite only turning 19 in January, he has been one of the first names on Southampton’s teamsheet under three different managers, with the player’s displays resulting in a maiden call-up to the Belgium national team in March.

The midfielder will most likely leave the Saints at the end of this campaign after the club was relegated to the Championship. Given his eye-catching displays and potential availability in the summer, Lavia is being coveted by several big clubs in this summer’s transfer window, with Liverpool reportedly the ‘closest’ club to sign him. It is understood that Liverpool are most appealing project to the teenager.

Manchester City have close to £40million buy-back clause in Lavia’s contract, though this cannot be activated until the summer of 2024, meaning Southampton’s best chance to cash in on the teenager would be this year.

Liverpool confirm Milner, Keita and Oxlade-Chamberlain will leave in June

Liverpool confirmed earlier this week that James Milner, Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Roberto Firmino will leave the club upon the expiry of their contracts this summer.

Firmino joined the Reds from Hoffenheim in 2015 and was a part of the fearsome front three alongside Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah that ripped apart defences across the Premier League and Europe and scored plenty of goals. He has registered 109 goals in 360 appearances.

Milner has also been a loyal servant to the Merseyside club, winning the Premier League, Champions League and the FA Cup among other major honours during a hugely successful eight-year spell at Anfield. Keita and Oxlade-Chamberlain saw their impact for Liverpool curtailed by constant injury problems, with the midfield duo managing 129 and 146 appearances respectively.

The departures of Milner, Keita and Oxlade-Chamberlain should pave the way for Jurgen Klopp to begin his midfield rebuild. With a move for top target Jude Bellingham now highly unlikely due to the club’s inability to meet the huge transfer fee suggested for the English sensation, Jurgen Klopp is on the lookout for another young prospect that could be shaped into a superstar at Anfield.

Romeo Lavia could unlock his true potential at Liverpool

Romeo Lavia is someone who not only is of the same age as Bellingham but also fits the profile of a player Klopp wants in midfield.

Energetic, hard-working and comfortable in possession, the Belgian has shown during his breakout Premier League campaign with Southampton that he has the ability to dictate the tempo of games from the middle of the park. The teenager is efficient in and out of possession, likes to win the ball back with his tackling and interception skills and can win aerial duels as well.

After Klopp unearthed a midfield prodigy in the shape of Stefan Bajcetic this season, the thought of another young player arriving at Anfield should be music to the ears of the Kopites. Undeniably, Liverpool must bring in a sublime talent like Lavia, who can develop into a top player under Klopp and dominate their midfield for the best part of the decade.