Parties are reportedly frustrated over how Liverpool have handled their approach for Romeo Lavia, with the Reds potentially having the option to sign the midfielder last week.
According to the Independent, frustration is in the air over Liverpool’s method of signing the Southampton teenager, who is now bound for Chelsea after the Blues made a £55m offer for the Belgian talent.
Liverpool had previously made three bids for Lavia all below Southampton’s £50m asking price, with the Reds this week attempting to blow Chelsea’s offer out of the water with a £60m package.
Despite the increased offer, Lavia has opted to join Chelsea as reported by the Athletic, with Southampton choosing to grant the player’s wish and accept the offer from the Blues despite it being lower than Liverpool’s bid.
Lauded by Pep Guardiola as an ‘incredible’ player, Lavia would have been an exceptional signing for Liverpool this summer having missed out on Moises Caicedo to Chelsea.
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Yet this latest update paints a picture over how sloppy Liverpool took on this entire process, with Lavia a player who could now be a Red had the Anfield side played their cards right from the very start.
Liverpool fans have every right to be frustrated over Lavia deal
Liverpool’s handling of signing Lavia from start to finish has been a nightmare, especially when compared to the swiftness the Reds completed deals to bring Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai to Anfield this summer.
Signing Lavia should have been a simply process of paying Southampton what they wanted. Instead, Liverpool penny-pinched and have now allowed Chelsea to swoop in to turn the midfielder’s head.
With Lavia now west-London bound and likely for the bench, Liverpool have utterly bottled this transfer, and fans have every right to be frustrated with how events played out.