- 20 minutes ago
Liverpool in race for £50million midfielder Romeo Lavia and Lyon youngster
Jacque Talbot
- Updated: 11 May 2023 16:25 BST
- 3 min read
Confirmed
Southampton will demand over £50million for Romeo Lavia even though the side have effectively been relegated from the Premier League, FootballTransfers can reveal.
We exclusively reported that Liverpool have an interest in the Belgian midfielder back in March, but the side will still have to fork out a substantial fee.
Lavia has a clause in his contract which grants Manchester City an option to buy back their former player at £40m- it’s not active until the summer of 2024 and so Southampton will demand a fee which is above that amount for the upcoming window.
The club will look to convince Lavia to stay for another year as they fight for a Premier League return. From there, Man City may look to bring the 19-year-old back to the Etihad Stadium. Newcastle have been linked but we understand that their interest isn’t so strong.
The Reds have also been scouting 20-year-old Bradley Barcola. Liverpool have scouted the Frenchman all season and view the attacker as someone who could deputise Mohamed Salah next season.
Liverpool’s interest in Mason Mount, a major target for Jurgen Klopp, has gone surprisingly quiet - Chelsea’s incoming clinching of Mauricio Pochettino may throw the Reds’ pursuit off track given the Argentine is an admirer of the attacker. It is unfathomable that Chelsea would be able to recoup the full £80m asking price they have suggested they want for the England international, given his deal being up in 2024.
Liverpool - you might hear Southampton’s Roméo Lavia linked soon and it wouldn’t be far wrong
— Jacque Talbot (@jac_talbot) March 30, 2023
Manuel Ugrate is liked by the Reds and sources in Portugal claim that the side are the front-runner for his signature, though they have been haggling with Sporting CP over the fee. Chelsea are very keen as well. As reportedly previously, Ugarte will leave this summer window without question.
Liverpool's recruitment shape up
Elsewhere, it has been confirmed that Dave Fallows will be part of a new-look Liverpool recruitment team, ratifying our story from earlier this year There have been some conflicting reports about the terms of Jorg Schmadtke’s possible move to Anfield. We reached out to the German for comment but so far no reply has been forthcoming.
Alexis Mac Allister is considered to be the Jude Bellingham alternative and work has gone on behind the scenes so the club aren't caught short like last summer. The World Cup winner has been talking with the club about a move in the summer. It’s been reported that Brighton and Liverpool have not yet spoken about a possible deal or fee.
