Gab Marcotti has said Romeo Lavia will find life “very different” before his rumored move from Southampton to Liverpool
The European football pundit has stressed that the 19-year-old’s move from a rather poor relegated Southampton side to a Liverpool side chasing the Premier League title next season is a “big step forward”.
The Italian journalist even wondered why Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola was happy to sell Romeo Lavia to Southampton last summer and if he “knows something we don’t know”, as we told ESPN.
Jordan Henderson left Anfield after 12 years of service – Reece James and James Carragher reacted to his departure.
And now there is talk that Fabinho could follow suit in Saudi Arabia, with Darren Bent surprised by the ‘silly rumors’ circulating about him. This only increases Liverpool’s chances of signing Lavia as they would be ‘big favourites’ to sign him and Marcotti shares his thoughts.
“It’s remarkable,” Marcotti said. “He was at Manchester City. I think he moved to Southampton for less than £20m. He’s had a really good season. “But suddenly Southampton are talking about 50 million pounds. I think Liverpool see this as an alternative. For that to happen, they need to move Henderson and Fabinho. It really seems like a big step forward considering that the man is not yet 20.
“The interesting thing about Lavia is that when you look at the Premier League there is almost a gap because you have the big dominant teams with 60-70% possession, the other teams don’t and they always change. “He’s not just from Southampton. He comes from a badly relegated Southampton side with three managers. Playing for Liverpool will be a very different experience. He had a career at Man City before that, so he’s comfortable in that environment as a grown-up club.
“You might ask the question ‘why didn’t Pep (Guardiola) believe in him a little more?’ Does Pep know something we don’t know? Was there just no place for him at Man City? Those questions would come in.”
‘Incredible’ Lavia can thrive at Liverpool
The previous campaign was one to quickly forget for Liverpool and new faces were needed to enter the building this summer – Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai have already arrived.
But with James Milner, Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Jordan Henderson already out the door – and Fabinho possibly following suit, will Mac Allister, Szoboszlai and possibly Lavia suffice as replacements?
Some would argue not, but if they can secure Lavia’s talents then it would be a brilliant signing, with Pep Guardiola calling the player ‘incredible’ earlier in April (Manchester City website).
