Southampton's blunt Romeo Lavia message to Liverpool

Stuart Telford

• 6 Aug 2023 13:43 BST
• 3 min read

Romeo Lavia won't be going to Liverpool on the cheap if Southampton chief executive Phil Parsons has got anything to do with it.

Liverpool have been chasing Lavia for months and recently saw a £42 million bid rejected by Saints, who are holding out for £50m for the Belgian youngster.

Liverpool's need for a new defensive midfielder has become pronounced now that Fabinho has left for Al-Ittihad.

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Lavia was relegated with Southampton last season after joining from Manchester City in a potential £14m deal - with £10.5m up front - last summer.

The Saints have fielded bits for a number of their most saleable assets, like James Ward-Prowse and Tino Livramento - the latter of whom is on the cusp of a move to Newcastle - but they won't be lowballed now they're down a division.

Parsons 'won't sell assets on the cheap'

"We can trim the squad, we can sell assets if we want to," Parsons told BBC Radio Solent. "[But] we won't be selling assets on the cheap. That's why we stood firm on a few.

READ: Liverpool line up midfield transfer alternative after latest Lavia blow

"We will develop a lot of players over the coming years and there will be players who go on to join top-four clubs but we won't be doing it at a cheap rate, we will be doing it at the going rate.

"If clubs want to place offers, we will look at them. We won't be saying just yes to any offer through the door."

Liverpool have already spent nearly £100m on midfielders this summers in bringing Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister to the club from RB Leipzig and Brighton respectively, but both players have a more attacking profile than Lavia.

Mac Allister and Curtis Jones can both plug a gap at No.6, but as things stands, Stefan Bajcetic, who is currently working his way back to fitness from a groin injury, is the only recognised defensive midfielder in the post-Fabinho era.