Liverpool’s pursuit of Southampton midfielder Romeo Lavia is allegedly nearing completion, with the two clubs closing a deal to bring the Belgian to Anfield this summer. Lavia has been extensively linked with a return to the Premier League following his relegation with Southampton last season, and is likely to be a target for the Reds, who are looking for more midfield reinforcements.
Liverpool are reportedly stepping up their pursuit of Southampton midfielder Romeo Lavia.
Liverpool recently had an initial proposal in the region of £37 million rejected by Southampton, but they are not giving up the chase, with personal conditions rumoured to have already been agreed with the player behind closed doors. The Reds have since presented a second bid of roughly £45 million, with Lavia’s projected move to Merseyside now described as a’matter of time’ by RMC Sport.
It is alleged that work is now being done to identify the suitable structure for a contract at club level, with’meticulous conversations’ supposed to be taking place between the two parties. Southampton are keen to ensure that any performance-related bonuses are reachable for Lavia, and the option of paying some of the transfer money in instalments is also being discussed.
Lavia is believed to be simply waiting for the green light to undergo a medical at Liverpool, who he is desperate to join before the new Premier League campaign gets underway. The Reds are also keen for negotiations to reach a swift conclusion in order to allow Lavia to join their pre-season tour of Singapore, which is set to get underway later this week.
One player who will not be travelling to Singapore is Fabinho, who is close to joining Al-Ittihad after weeks of negotiations over a potential move to Saudi Arabia. All parties are committed to getting a deal done over the next few days, according to The Times, with Fabinho set to leave Liverpool for around £40m after five successful years on their books.
Fabinho’s relocation was put on hold earlier this week, with reports claiming that a deal was stalled due to Saudi Arabia’s ban on the breed of dogs the Brazilian owns. He has two French bulldogs, but it was unclear if they would be allowed to enter the nation if they were deemed ‘dangerous and violent’ by authorities.
However, The Athletic then claimed that Fabinho’s two dogs had nothing to do with the delay in closing the sale. Liverpool are now anticipating his intended departure to be finalized as soon as possible, and he will not be flying to Singapore with the rest of the squad due to his predicament.
Former Chelsea defender Frank Lebouf recently questioned Fabinho’s apparent decision to join the growing number of high-profile players in Saudi Arabia, telling ESPN: “If I see players below 30, sorry, but I would say it’s stupid because they have some years to give to the best leagues in the world and they shouldn’t go there.” I’d like to express my gratitude.
“I remember him being one of the main players when he was at the top.” Liverpool’s success can be attributed to players like him who came to the Premier League and demonstrated their skill. One of them was Fabinho. He was absolutely outstanding in the heart of the park alongside [Jordan] Henderson, possibly the best defensive midfielders in the world.”
