Liverpool's initial offer for Romeo Lavia has been rejected by Southampton.
Liverpool has initiated their efforts to sign 19-year-old holding midfielder Roméo Lavia from Southampton. However, their first bid, which was reportedly around £35-37 million, has been rejected by the relegated Saints. Nevertheless, a compromise fee may not be far from being reached.
The transfer saga is rapidly unfolding, with The Athletic's David Ornstein indicating that Southampton values the player closer to £50 million, while Belgian transfer expert Sacha Tavolieri hints at a potential compromise fee closer to Manchester City's £40 million buyback clause.
The existence of City's buyback clause, set to take effect next summer, sets a minimum value for Lavia. Additionally, there is a reported 20% sell-on fee that would apply to any profit made from his sale beyond the £14 million paid for him last summer. However, this does not necessarily mean that Southampton has an insurmountable negotiating position.
Since Southampton has been relegated to the Championship, they are likely to need sales this summer. If Lavia stays at Southampton and plays in the second tier of English football, there's no guarantee that City would pursue him in a year.
If, Lavia desires to join Liverpool, it seems that a pathway to a deal is quickly taking shape. Considering Liverpool's positional needs, a transfer fee in the range of £40 million, give or take a few add-ons, is likely to be acceptable to the club.
