Time is ticking. The Premier League season starts in a matter of days and Liverpool are short of a defensive midfielder.
The departure of Jordan Henderson and Fabinmho to Saudi Arabia leaves the Reds short in the middle of the park ahead of what is going to be a tough season ahead.
To make matters worse, it appears that Thiago is seeking a move away from the club too. We urgently need to sign a defensive midfielder, but who?
Fortunately, we know who Jurgen Klopp wants – Romeo Lavia. Southampton’s Belgian international ticks all the boxes and the recently-relegated club need to balance their books. Surely, its an easy deal to get over the line?
Apparently not.
The Saints placed a £50m price tag on the 19-year-old. That’s not an eye-watering figure in the current climate, by any means. The sale of Henderson and Fabinho generated £12m and £40m respectively, so there is money in the pot, so why barter like a tourist in the market of Marrakesh?
A £35m offer was blindly rejected, then £42m, and now we hear a third offer of £45m has been turned down. Surely the need for a new defensive midfielder is greater than the need to save £5m?
Southampton are holding firm, knowing they hold the cards, and eventually Liverpool will be forced to stump up the £50m asking price before the transfer window closes on 1st September.
Surely it would have been better to get the player signed, ease him into life at Liverpool during pre-season and be available to hit the ground running at Stamford Bridge on Sunday?
Let’s hope this isn’t a deal that collapses and leaves us holding out for a replacement in January, as happened with Virgil van Dijk. We can’t afford to be off the pace by Christmas.
Come on Liverpool, get the deal done!
