Thiago would be completed by Romeo Lavia
The young star from Southampton “sets the play in motion”…

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Romeo Lavia, a midfielder for Southampton,

 

is still a target for Liverpool, according to

sources, and talks are still ongoing despite

the Saints rejecting Jurgen Klopp’s team’s

third official transfer offer.

What has Romeo Lavia been up to lately?

According to Belgian writer Sacha Tavolieri,

Lavia’s representatives are currently trying

to finalize the deal after protracted transfer

negotiations and the approaching Premier

League season, which is just a few days

away.

Fabrizio Romano has stated that

Southampton has restated its steadfast

attitude on the matter and will hold out for

£50m in response to the rejected proposals

(reportedly for £37m and £42m).

Liverpool has concluded transactions

Although a large exodus this summer has

exacerbated Liverpool’s need for

reinforcements, deals for midfielders Alexis

Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai have

already been finalized. As a result, urgent

action is required to assure the club’s return

to form.

 

Romeo Lavia’s talent level?

After a disastrous season that left the

Merseyside team competing outside of the

Champions League for the first time in

seven seasons, Liverpool’s reluctance to

quickly complete a move for Lavia threatens

to hinder their return to Premier League

activity.

Indeed, due to the trades of Fabinho and

Jordan Henderson to Saudi Arabian teams,

Liverpool will be without a natural No. 6 to

begin the arduous season-opening match

against Chelsea, who will be aiming for a

top-four finish.

According to Sofascore, the Belgian prodigy

had an average rating of 6.80 in the Premier

League last season, making 2.1 tackles, 1.1

interceptions, and 68% of his successful

dribbles and 57% of his successful ground

duels. He also completed 86% of his passes.

The £25k per week machine also ranks in

the top 4% of midfielders in blocks per 90

over the past year in Europe’s top five

leagues, demonstrating his zeal and

intensity in containing danger and relieving

pressure on the backline, something

Liverpool’s midfield failed to do the

previous season.

Kenn Leandre criticized Fabinho for his

“criminal” performances last season since

he performed well below average. While his

departure leaves a void in the midfield, it

may also strengthen Liverpool’s defense.

 

The midfield maestro Thiago, who is one of

the Premier League’s technically elite stars

but has missed the majority of his Anfield

career due to injury since joining from

Bayern Munich for an initial £20 million in

2020, could help Lavia in the Anfield center

and possibly see his own game improve.

thiago-conor-gallagher-liverpool-chelsea

Despite this, the 32-year-old Spaniard

possesses the ball-playing prowess and

tackling toughness to guide Lavia onto the

path for a career at the pinnacle of the

game, producing the full, all-encompassing

midfield arsenal to strike fear into the

hearts of the enemy.

The £200k-per-week Liverpool star is in the

top 3% of midfielders for passes attempted,

the top 5% for progressive passes, and the

top 10% for passes completed.

passe, the top 4% for tackles, the top 10% for

interceptions per 90, and the top 16% for

successful takedowns.

 

Thiago could unleash his powers with full-

fledged aggression with a capable defensive

midfielder holding the center together,

giving him the confidence he needed thanks

to the bouncing prodigy guarding the

backline and deflecting threats next to him.

The Athletic’s Jacob Tanswell has already

referred to Lavia as “exquisite,” so Thiago’s

defensive work would ensure that she

wouldn’t be daunted by the enormity of her

task: playing the center of Liverpool’s

midfield.

After lengthy talks that have not yielded a

deal, Klopp needs to conclude the deal

quickly. Although Southampton is adamant

about their asking price, the Reds are getting

closer and may eventually succeed with a

new center-piece to kickstart a return to

lasting form.