Liverpool could gain major advantage over Chelsea and Arsenal by winning race for £50m midfield gem

Liverpool rectifying their midfield problems is like a couple finally sitting down to address the one niggling issue in an otherwise pretty happy marriage. The 2022/23 season really was the tipping point for Jurgen Klopp, who has not only brought in two marquee signings this window, but surplus players have also been moved on to make room for a whole restructure.

The manager did want to hold onto James Milner, who had been a fierce and loyal contributor to the Merseyside outfit for eight years, but the veteran wanted a new challenge as he nears retirement. While keeping the versatile workhorse would have been no real bad thing, his departure is symbolic for Liverpool. It marks the end of an era and has shown fans that Klopp is serious about making changes and hoisting the club back up onto its pedestal.

Despite the loose and rusting gears in their engine room over the years though, the Reds have enjoyed some of their most decorated years as a football club. When Liverpool won the Champions League in 2019, their midfield substitutes included Adam Lallana and Xherdan Shaqiri.

Granted, Georginio Wijnaldum was different gravy from the rest — especially with his clutch two-minute brace against Barcelona in the semi-finals — but during that time, Klopp had very few midfielders to rely on for moments like that. In fact, midfielders who can turn a game around like Steven Gerrard did for so many years, have been a rare sight at Anfield since Captain Fantastic left.

This is where fans will be hoping it’s all going to change. We recently looked at how the signing of Dominik Szoboszlai could be the missing piece to the puzzle the Reds have been chasing since the departure of Philippe Coutinho. The signing of Alexis Mac Allister after the best season of his career so far was also a big statement move — and it will feel that little bit sweeter knowing he only cost £35 million too.

There’s still time this window to add even more firepower to this exciting new midfield and the rumour mill has suggested that Klopp is in for one more midfielder. The main name on the grapevine is Roméo Lavia, who is seeking a move away from Southampton after they were relegated from the Premier League last season.

Having already brought in two attacking-minded midfielders, Lavia would be the final piece of Klopp’s current puzzle. Despite only recently turning 19 years old, the Belgium international is a hot transfer target and, after just one season with a struggling Southampton side, he is commanding a £50 million transfer fee, an almost £40 million increase in just 12 months.

Chelsea and Arsenal are also in the running for Lavia but bookmakers have listed Liverpool as the favourites to snap him up this summer. Should they be able to get a deal over the line, they would further stamp their dominance on this transfer window, and, hopefully in the Premier League next season.

While Klopp has targeted big money signings who are already tried and tested over his tenure at Anfield, he is also a man for nurturing rising talent. Trent Alexander-Arnold is the perfect example, and now Curtis Jones looks to be headed in a similar direction. A new era of Gerrard and Carragher is dawning.

Bringing a player like Lavia to Liverpool will allow Klopp to mould him into the holding midfielder he wants in his team. Although his price tag may suggest he is an experienced player ready to dive straight into the action, he is still a relatively blank canvas that the Reds boss can make the most of.

Before signing for Southampton, Lavia was part of Manchester City’s youth system. He shone for the U23s and, after winning the Premier League 2 title with the young Citizens, he was named Player of the Season. The 19-year-old only started training with Pep Guardiola’s first team in the summer of 2021, and he was handed his professional debut in September at the EFL Cup against Wycombe Wanderers.

His potential was soon noticed and he joined Southampton last summer, making 27 starts in their troublesome Premier League campaign. While his contract is still active for another four years, Lavia is seeking an exit and wants to return to top flight football. This is where Liverpool could provide him with the ideal environment.

Amid Klopp’s midfield restructure, Fabinho is one of the only players whose position is safe this summer. Milner, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keïta have all left the club, the future of Thiago remains unclear, and Gerrard has identified Jordan Henderson as a potential summer target.

Fabinho is a valued member of this Liverpool side and played in all but two Premier League matches last season. With his deal running until 2026, it’s unlikely the reliable No.6 will be going anywhere, but signing a player like Lavia could be Klopp’s way of putting plans in place for Fabinho’s eventual successor.

There is plenty of potential for this to come to fruition as well. According to WhoScored, Lavia actually averaged more tackles (2.1) and interceptions (1.1) per 90 minutes, compared to Fabinho’s 1.8 tackles and 1 interception average. However, the Brazilian trumps the Belgian when it comes to passing, with more average passes (50.4 compared to 34.2) and a higher passing accuracy (88.7 percent compared to 86.4 percent) per match.

But of course, Lavia is still just starting out in his senior career and could learn a lot shadowing Fabinho at Anfield. He would also make for healthy competition for Stefan Bajcetic, who really started to break into the Liverpool first team before he suffered a season-ending injury.

Lavia’s £50 million price tag may seem steep for a player so young, with so little experience, but Klopp is excellent at taking a player with bags of potential and carving them into Liverpool sensations. You only have to look at the journey of Roberto Firmino, who Klopp inherited as a struggling striker and transformed into one of the most popular Anfield stars of recent years. Who’s to say Lavia can’t be the next mega Klopp project?