A readymade replacement for Fabinho has agreed personal terms with Liverpool and will snub rival interest, and ‘concrete negotiations’ regarding the transfer fee have begun, per reports.
Liverpool’s primary focus this summer was always going to centre around revamping a sub-par midfield. Arthur Melo, Leighton Clarkson, Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and James Milner have all departed.
Fabinho and Jordan Henderson will soon be added to that list. Today’s Transfer Gossip brought news of why Henderson decided to join Steven Gerrard’s Al Ettifaq on the back of a key conversation with Jurgen Klopp.
Of those listed, only Fabinho was a regular starter last season. As such, a direct replacement will soon be required as Klopp goes in search of a holding midfielder who’ll be flanked by Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai.
One player who emerged on Liverpool’s radar was Southampton ace, Romeo Lavia.
Arsenal and Chelsea too liked what they saw from the 19-year-old Belgium international last season. Lavia earned rave reviews for his energy, tough tackling and knack for racking up interceptions.
Now, according to multiple sources, Lavia is destined to become a Liverpool player after agreeing personal terms with the Reds.
Lavia chooses Liverpool; opening bid revealed
Firstly, Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg tweeted Lavia “wants to join Liverpool” and has given Klopp’s side the greenlight.
Belgian journalist Sacha Tavolieri took it a step further, reporting Lavia has “agreed on personal terms.”
Lavia was reportedly beginning to grow “annoyed” at the transfer saga dragging on. However, in lieu of Fabinho and Henderson being on the cusp of leaving, Liverpool have accelerated their move.
Plettenberg claimed “concrete negotiations” regarding the transfer fee are now underway. That was echoed by Tavolieri who confirmed Liverpool have opened talks with the Saints
Southampton are understood to value Lavia at £50m, while Tavolieri claimed the Reds will soon open the bidding at £35m.
Clearly, an opening bid of that size is likely to be rejected, though very few clubs bid full price straight out of the gate.
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