With talks persevering with to stall over a deal to signal Romeo Lavia, Liverpool look to be dealing with Premier League competitors for the midfielder’s signature.
The Reds have pursued the Southampton midfielder all through the summer season and have had three bids rejected to this point, the third of which being price as much as £46 million.
Lavia was not included within the Saints’ matchday squad for his or her EFL Cup conflict towards Gillingham on Tuesday, with reviews indicating that he hoped to finish a transfer to Anfield imminently.
Southampton look to be standing agency on their £50 million valuation of the participant, however Chelsea have now entered the body with The Athletic’s David Ornstein reporting {that a} £48 million provide was submitted on Wednesday night time.
Chelsea themselves have been embroiled in a prolonged pursuit of Brighton’s Moises Caicedo this summer season, with the Guardian now reporting that Mauricio Pochettino’s facet are hopeful of bringing each midfielders to Stamford Bridge this summer season.
It leaves Liverpool needing a fast response if they’re to safe the Belgian this summer season, with a really actual threat rising that he may now transfer to a Premier League rival.
The gradual development of the negotiations has offered Chelsea with the encouragement to make their transfer, with the Blues seeing Lavia as an possibility on high of Caicedo fairly than instead.
Southampton have been resolute in holding out for his or her £50 million asking worth this summer season, however Chelsea‘s bid is the closest anybody has come to matching that determine to this point within the window.
The competitors for Lavia’s signature comes as a blow to the Reds, who’re nonetheless with out a recognised defensive midfielder within the squad following Fabinho’s departure final month.
It may in fact be a case of Chelsea trying to power Brighton‘s hand of their pursuit of Caicedo by giving an impression of in search of different choices, with massive cash strikes for each midfielders representing a number of enterprise to do in August.
Liverpool journey to Chelsea this Sunday for the opening sport of their Premier League season having signed simply two midfielders within the switch window to this point and with James Milner, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Naby Keita, Fabinho and Jordan Henderson all having moved on.
Whether or not Liverpool are capable of full a deal for Lavia stays to be seen, however the method with which negotiations have stalled has left the squad brief and seem to have elicited curiosity from elsewhere.
