Stuart Pearce is hopeful Liverpool will sign Southampton midfielder Romeo Lavia this summer.
The Reds saw their initial bid worth £37m for the 19-year-old rejected by the Saints who value him at £50m with several clubs such as Chelsea and Arsenal interested in acquiring his services.
Lavia has already agreed personal terms with Jurgen Klopp’s side and has his heart set on Anfield. He was convinced by Klopp’s long-term project and is hopeful the German can help him become of the best defensive midfielders in the world.
The Belgium U-21 international impressed in his debut season at St Mary’s Stadium where he racked up 34 appearances in all competitions and made two goal contributions.
“You’re a first-teamer at Southampton, going to a club where you’re going to have to fight. I’m not sure it is daunting for young players anymore, they seem to be so rounded in the ways of football, I just think they take it on board as they do,” the former England skipper told Talksport Drive show.
“It’d be a great challenge for him and well, for a club like Liverpool at his age to come in and say ‘listen, we think you can do us a turn because of what we’ve seen at Southampton’, they’re buying potential – there’s no doubt about the finance and whatever.”
He added: “I don’t think it would hurt him to stay another year at Southampton and attempt to get them promoted again at his age. “But I’ve got a feeling money might talk in that situation and he’ll end up going.”
Lavia moved to Southampton last summer from Manchester City and Pep Guardiola’s side are entitled to 20 percent of any fee received for his services.
Liverpool have already signed Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai and are still in the market to make further midfield reinforcements following the imminent exit of Jordan Henderson.
The Merseysiders have been linked with a move for several midfielders including Crystal Palace’s Cheick Doucoure, Fiorentina’s Sofyan Amrabat, Bayern Munich’s Ryan Gravenberch, and Manchester City’s Kalvin Phillips.
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