One of the most positive aspects of what was Liverpool’s worst season under Jürgen Klopp for many years was the emergence is Curtis Jones as a regular first-team option.
The 22-year-old has continued his good form into this summer’s under-21 Euros, picking up the man-of-the-match award for his display in England’s semi-final victory over Israel.
Jones has excelled in a deeper role for Lee Carsley’s side. This versatility may increase his chances of first-team minutes going into next season after the signings of Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai.
Another deep-lying midfielder tipped for the top is Southampton’s Romeo Lavia. The Belgian has been linked with a move to the Reds all summer, but the Athletic’s James Pearce reported there is a feeling from within the club that he is ‘massively overpriced’ at a rumoured £50million.
On the latest episode of our Journo Insight show, we spoke to experienced LFC journalist Neil Jones for his thoughts on Lavia.
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Neil said:
“As James puts it, correctly, £50 million doesn’t make sense – I don’t think – for any club. I don’t think it makes sense for Liverpool. If the fee makes sense, I think Liverpool will make a move.
“There’ll be other clubs who can be making promises that Liverpool possibly can’t make him at the moment. Arsenal letting Xhaka go, letting Thomas Partey go – potentially that might factor into Lavia’s thinking.
“Liverpool… can they make that promise? Is the promise: ‘You wait a year and you’ll take over from Fabinho and Jordan Henderson’?
“This isn’t like Szoboszlai or even Mac Allister. Szoboszlai had the release clause and the path was clear once Newcastle were out of that race. This isn’t like that. I think there are still a few bits in the path.
“The bottom line with Lavia is: does the deal make sense at this stage? I think there’s a price where it does. I think there’s a price where it doesn’t.
“If that is Southampton’s asking price – of course, they’re going to start high – but if it’s £50 million, I would say it doesn’t make sense for Liverpool.”
Redmen Reacts
As tempting as it is to scream ‘Get that chequebook out again!’ at John Henry, it smacks of good long-term strategic thinking to try and come to a compromise on the fee for Romeo Lavia. The asking price of around £50million would be enough to prize many top midfield operators with a great deal more experience out of their clubs. Lavia – who was hailed for his ‘tremendous feet’ by Premier League legend Paul Scholes – looks to have a great deal of potential, but the historic example of players like Jack Rodwell and Dele Alli proves that success is not guaranteed for even the most promising youngster, although coming through under Jürgen Klopp should provide the teenager with the ideal conditions to reach the very top of the game.
With Thiago, Fabinho and Jordan Henderson all nearer the end of their respective careers than the start, there is a path to first-team football at the club in the next few years. Both Thiago and the club captain have been linked with possible moves to free-spending Saudi Arabian sides. It may require one of the three to leave this summer before the button is pushed on Lavia. With over 50 days to go before the transfer window closes, there is still plenty of time for a deal to be made.
TO HEAR MORE FROM NEIL ON THE LIKES OF LAVIA, CLICK HERE
