25 July 2023 , 17:16
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Liverpool have seen a £37million bid for midfielder Romeo Lavia knocked back by Southampton as Jurgen Klopp admitted he is short of time in the transfer window to reshape his squad.
The Reds are braced for the departures of captain Jordan Henderson and experienced holding midfielder Fabinho in the coming days. They have already seen James Milner, Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Roberto Firmino leave Anfield as free agents this summer.
Henderson has been offered a ridiculous £700,000 per week wage to join the Saudi Pro League side Al-Ittifaq – managed by his former Reds team-mate Steven Gerrard. His long-term Anfield midfielder partner Fabinho is also set to move to the Middle East, joining Saudi champions Al-Ittihad.
The Reds have signed Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai from Brighton and RB Leipzig respectively already, but both are attack-minded players and Klopp will be keen to sign at least two more midfielders this summer.
Lavia, 19, is top of their transfer wish-list but The Athletic have detailed how their initial £37m approach for the talented teenager has been knocked back by the Saints. The South Coast club are in a sound financial situation despite their relegation from the Premier League and are in no need to sell players at discount prices.
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Sky Sports also report that Chelsea are monitoring Lavia's situation and could rival Liverpool in a bidding war. Crystal Palace midfielder Cheick Doucoure is greatly admired by Klopp, while the club’s ongoing interest in Ryan Gravenberch well documented – the Dutch international has failed to settle at Bayern Munich since joining from Ajax a year ago.
Lavia has in pre-season training with Southampton but is wanted by Liverpool (Matt Watson/Southampton FC via Getty Images) Have Your Say! Which midfielders should Liverpool sign this summer ? Tell us what you think here.
Manchester City midfielder Kalvin Phillips is also on Liverpool ’s shortlist, but despite his lack of prominence at the Etihad it is unclear if Pep Guardiola would countenance selling him to a direct rival. There is interest in Sofyan Amrabat, but it is believed Manchester United ’s interest in the Moroccan international is more advanced.
Klopp has spoken about the need to sort the club’s comings and goings as soon as possible, with the start of the Premier League season less than three weeks away. The Reds are desperate to improve on their underwhelming fifth-place finish last campaign.
"There are so many things to do," Klopp said on the We Are Liverpool podcast, which was released over the weekend. "The transfer window is open. If my day would have 28 hours at the moment it would not be a problem — I could fill them easily!
"With all the things you have to do left and right, my main focus and energy has to go into the training sessions then that's what I do. Then either side of the sessions I can try to help with other stuff.
"Still three-and-a-half weeks until the first game of the season. A few things have to happen before then, definitely, transfer market-wise as well. That is clear now. And it will happen. New players have to come in. We will have a good team."