After all, a planned transfer battle between Liverpool and Arsenal for a top-flight midfielder could not involve the Gunners, according to a source.
Both the Gunners and Reds wasted no time this summer getting their ducks lined up.
Arsenal have already completed a £65m transfer for Kai Havertz, while West Ham have accepted a £105m offer for Declan Rice and news from the Netherlands suggests Jurrien Timber will be next.
Liverpool, meanwhile, got out of the trap when they finalized a quick-fire deal with Brighton for Alexis Mac Allister.
Midfield additions will dominate the headlines at Anfield this summer, with the number two on the way. The £60m escape clause in Dominik Szoboszlai’s contract with RB Leipzig has been activated. Personal terms were agreed and the 22-year-old Hungarian ace traveled to Merseyside to undergo a medical.
However, both Liverpool and Arsenal want another midfield deal and one player they had apparently been turning to was Romeo Lavia.
The Southampton player is still a teenager, although the 19-year-old has certainly played more maturely than in his years last season.
The Belgium international was one of the few bright sparks during a fateful campaign for the Saints. If it hadn’t been for Lavia, the relegation would have been confirmed much sooner.
Athletic’s James Pearce confirmed Lavia is on Liverpool’s radar, while Belgian journalist Sacha Tavolieri described a potential Reds transfer for Saint as “real and huge”.
According to Football Insider, Arsenal reached a verbal agreement with Lavia last week. Football Transfers later said the Gunners are ready to step up their pursuit once Rice takes the bench.
Chelsea – not Arsenal – will play Liverpool for Lavia
However, according to The Athletic’s Southampton correspondent Jacob Tanswell, it is Liverpool who are fast becoming Lavia’s next most likely club. According to Tanswell, it is Chelsea and not Arsenal who are competing with Liverpool for the signing of Lavia.
Tanswell told Empire of the Kop: “Southampton want a top score for him. Someone has to pay around £45m – £50m for Lavia. Who can do that depends on all the other goals they get.”
On who in particular could and is more likely to win the race, Tanswell added: “Liverpool or Chelsea. I think probably Liverpool, with Jürgen Klopp and with the background [the work] they’ve done on him, that’s probably the probable destination seems .”
Had Liverpool signed Lavia, Klopp would have completely revamped his midfield in one fell swoop. Lavia would be seen as Fabinho’s long-term successor, while Mac Allister and Szoboszlai will act either side in the box-to-box roles.
