Liverpool is preparing to make a second bid for Roméo Lavia, but Southampton has issued a clear caution to the Reds, with Chelsea still interested in the midfielder.
Southampton issues a transfer warning to FSG after a $47 million approach from Liverpool is rejected.
Liverpool is vying with Chelsea for the signature of young midfielder Roméo Lavia, who has piqued the interest of both teams after impressing for Southampton. Southampton issues a transfer warning to FSG after a $47 million approach from Liverpool is rejected.
Potential suitors, however, have been warned that gaining the young star’s talents will not be cheap. Despite the fact that Southampton was relegated from the Premier League, Lavia’s outstanding performances have piqued the curiosity of top-flight clubs, creating a potential transfer fight between Liverpool and Chelsea (as reported by The Athletic).
While Southampton has so far just sold Mislav Ori, more departures are expected as the team prepares for life in the Championship. Lavia and James Ward-Prowse are among the players who are expected to leave, but Southampton’s sports director, Jason Wilcox, has issued a caution to potential suitors.
He made it plain that any offers must reach the Saints’ valuation, as the club will not sell on the cheap. “I think when a club makes an offer, it’s very rarely their full and final offer,” Wilcox remarked. If the proper offer comes along, we will take it into consideration. Consider is a crucial term because we don’t need to sell, we have a lot of assets, and it’s all about how we rebuild the squad.
“There will be players who start the season for us but leave later in the window, which is difficult for the manager and players to deal with, as well as their families and agents.” You can work through issues when there is transparency and honesty.
“This transition applies to every Championship club that has been relegated from the Premier League.” If a club wants to sign our players on the cheap and we feel like we’re losing, that’s not a win-win situation; there must be a compromise.
“There will be times when we tell players, ‘I’m sorry, but the value isn’t there; you’ll be with us in the Championship and have to generate your Premier League value.'”
“I have an idea of how the squad might look, but I’ve done six versions of that.” If you could see my laptop right now, you’d see six different variants of how the team could appear.”
Last summer, Lavia joined Southampton from Manchester City. City has a buyback option to re-sign the midfielder, but it will not be active until 2024.
“I hope I can persuade some people who were on the fence to stay,” Southampton manager Russell Martin told BBC Radio Solent. “I believe some players who we cannot avoid [losing] will return to the Premier League.”
“That’s the nature of the game, and some of them will be far too appealing to Premier League teams, wanting to play in the Premier League.” You must respect that.”
Liverpool’s opening bid for Lavia in the region of $47m (£37m/€43m) was rejected (as per The Athletic), but the club are optimistic of signing the youngster with personal terms having already been agreed.
