Stuart Pearce believes a transfer to Liverpool would be a good challenge for Romeo Lavia.
Former England captain Stuart Pearce believes Romeo Lavia will join Liverpool this summer rather than remain with Southampton.
Despite his club’s relegation, speculation has been widespread this summer about the Belgian midfielder and a return to the Premier League following a promising breakout 2022/23 season.
Liverpool have been heavily connected, and they have now reached what appears to be a pivotal week in this transfer season, with the Lavia saga and prospective exits for Fabinho and Jordan Henderson gathering steam. The newest speculation looks to imply that things are reaching a tipping point, with David Ornstein reporting that a £37 million ‘opening bid’ for the Saints player was rejected.
Only time will tell if a second bid is submitted, and more significantly, if Southampton accepts. If everything goes as planned, Pearce believes it will be a good test for the 19-year-old.
On Tuesday’s Talksport Drive show, he said: “You’re a first-teamer at Southampton, going to a club where you’re going to have to fight.” I’m not sure it’s intimidating for young players now; they appear so well-rounded in the ways of football that I just think they absorb it as they go.
“It’d be a great challenge for him, and for a club like Liverpool to come in at his age and say, ‘listen, we think you can do us a turn because of what we’ve seen at Southampton,’ they’re buying potential – there’s no doubt about the finance and whatever.”
When asked whether he believes the transfer will go through, the former Nottingham Forest defender decided in Liverpool’s favour.
“I don’t think he’d be hurt to stay another year at Southampton and try to get them promoted again at his age,” Pearce said. “But I have a feeling money will speak in that situation and he’ll end up leaving.”
