Liverpool are preparing a second bid for Southampton midfielder Romeo Lavia after having an opening offer rejected, according to reports.
Lavia is now the Reds’ number-one priority in the transfer market as Jurgen Klopp looks to add numbers in midfield.
Brazilian midfielder Fabinho is close to joining Jordan Henderson in Saudi Arabia, meaning Klopp’s only natural options in defensive midfield are Thiago and Stefan Bajcetic, who have both been struggling with injuries.
Trent Alexander-Arnold is a wildcard option in that position and he has been playing as a No. 6 in pre-season. His strongest position is definitely as an inverted right-back, supporting the deep-lying midfielder.
Klopp has also utilised Curtis Jones and 18-year-old James McConnell in the No. 6 role this summer.
It is abundantly clear that Liverpool need to recruit a specialist in that position and Lavia would be a great addition, even if he is on the inexperienced side.
The 19-year-old made 29 Premier League appearances as Southampton were relegated to the Championship last term.
Despite the Saints’ relegation, Lavia impressed and has also been linked with Arsenal and Chelsea this summer.
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Liverpool tried to tempt the Championship outfit into a sale by making an opening bid worth £34million plus £4m in add-ons.
Southampton rejected that offer, pointing the Merseyside club to their £50m valuation of the Belgian teenager.
And the very reliable Paul Joyce says Southampton are ‘braced’ for a second offer from Liverpool for Klopp’s ‘prime target’.
Writing for The Times, Joyce says the fresh bid is going to be ‘nearer to Southampton’s £50m valuation’.
Due to a ‘reluctance’ to pay that amount, the Reds had been hoping for a ‘compromise’, even with free-spending Chelsea lurking.
Despite interest from the Blues, Lavia ‘remains keen to join Liverpool’, whose ‘stance’ over the valuation ‘has changed’ following Henderson’s confirmed move and Fabinho’s inevitable move to Saudi Arabia.
Joyce adds that Klopp is hoping to sign a defender before the transfer window closes with Joel Matip now in the final 12 months of his contract.
Liverpool have already completed the midfield signings of Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai, meaning they might start the Premier League season with a whole new midfield, all for around £150m.
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