Liverpool didn’t think Romeo Lavia was worth Southampton’s asking price in the summer but chose him anyway as they needed a signing for the job.
So says LFC expert Neil Jones in his latest exclusive column for CaughtOffside. The reporter explained that the Reds did not believe Lavia was worth £50m and he had now joined Chelsea for little more than that.
Blues fans certainly won’t care, having now beaten Liverpool against two of the midfield’s best talents in Lavia and Moises Caicedo, and the Merseyside giants also have plenty to do before the end of the summer transfer window.
Lavia may have been a little overpriced like many players in this current market, but Liverpool fans will surely be a bit frustrated that their club didn’t do more to clinch this deal ahead of a big top four rivals.
“Adding to the Caicedo news was another setback for Liverpool as Romeo Lavia has also joined Chelsea,” Jones said. “In many ways this will hurt the Reds more. Not because he’s a better player – he certainly isn’t – but because this is a deal Liverpool could and should have made.
“Lavia has been on their radar for months and they rejected three offers earlier this summer. Their reluctance to meet Southampton’s asking price, which has always been £50m, has cost them, as well as their dramatic turn in Caicedo last week.
“And what that also does is bring Liverpool’s ‘search for value’ policy into focus. They didn’t believe Lavia was worth £50m, which is fine. I actually agree. He is not. But in the end they were willing to pay him because they needed a player, and they still couldn’t get him.
“If they turn their attention elsewhere, they only have two and a half weeks to get someone involved and everyone knows they have money to spend. How likely are they to find value now? »
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Romano discloses Liverpool phone call regarding £50 million deal on Friday after Reds fail “secret job”
According to Fabrizio Romano, Liverpool called Southampton on Friday about a possible transfer of Romeo Lavia after Chelsea made a new offer.
Jurgen Klopp confirmed in his press conference on Friday that Liverpool had made a move for Moises Caicedo with reports that a bid of around £110m had been accepted.
However, it was later revealed that the Ecuadorian international had told the Reds that he “just wants to go to Chelsea this summer”, with the Blues themselves making a new offer.
Liverpool have also been battling with Chelsea over Southampton midfielder Lavia – valued at £50m – as they seek at least one replacement for Jordan Henderson and Fabinho, who both moved to Saudi Arabia earlier this summer.
Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai came on earlier this summer to cover defeats to Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and James Milner, with the trio leaving on a free transfer. Liverpool have made several offers for Belgium international Lavia at Southampton but have so far been unsuccessful and risk losing to Chelsea for him too.
And transfer guru Romano has revealed Liverpool are still interested in signing Lavia. A call was made to the Saints last night, although Southampton’s asking price has yet to be met.
Romano wrote in his Caught Offside column: “Friday’s story du jour was Harry Kane v Bayern but the Moises Caicedo saga was straightforward, if not crazier.” As of this writing, Chelsea are currently in contact with Brighton to reapply for Caicedo.
“So let’s wait and see that move because it’s crucial. Caicedo wants to go to Chelsea, he said directly to Liverpool at lunchtime on Friday very clearly, when it seemed that everything was ready to enter Jurgen Klopp’s squad.
“That’s why Chelsea are now working on a club-to-club deal after weeks of negotiations. I think Chelsea were confident they would be the only ones working on this deal, but Liverpool’s ‘secret work’ has been excellent. In the end it is always the player’s preference that makes the difference.
Chelsea also sent Southampton a fresh offer for Romeo Lavia on Friday night, but once again we wait for Caicedo before we see the end of Lavia’s story, as Liverpool also called Southampton up for the 19-year-old on Friday afternoon. “Chelsea see Lavia as a separate deal from Caicedo, but Liverpool have been there all day as well. Southampton won’t sell Lavia for less than £50m, they knew that.
