Stevie Nicol has backed Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool to sign Romeo Lavia from Southampton by stating that he is someone who can do ‘everything’.
At 19-years-old, the Anfield legend added that Romeo Lavia still has ‘rawness’ to his game and how he seems to run with the ball a lot.
But with age and experience, Nicol clearly feels all of that can be ironed out, as he compared the teenager to himself and how ‘there was a 19-year-old that went to Liverpool a long time ago, who used to run with the ball a lot and he didn’t end up doing too bad’, as he told ESPN.
After three midfield departures this summer, James Milner, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita, added to the club’s troubles last season, it was obvious that wholesale changes were going to be made in the middle of the park.
Add in the claims that Jordan Henderson is on the verge of moving to Saudi Arabia to link-up with Steven Gerrard at Al-Ettifaq, as reported by Sky Sports, then it only further points towards Jurgen Klopp needing more players to come in this summer.
It has been suggested that ‘personal terms have been agreed‘ between Lavia and Liverpool, as they aren’t far off from signing him, with Nicol sharing his thoughts.
“It does seem like a lot of money for a guy with very little experience,” said Nicol. “However, I am sure they have looked at the stats. I am sure every single man and his dog, connected with Liverpool, has watched this over and over, this guy live and on tape.
“I am sure they have dug into his background. Every single thing about him that will determine whether they go the extra mile and bring him in. At 19, you are talking about another ten years that he could maybe spend at Liverpool, if they think his game can go from where it is now.
“Let’s be honest, a 19-year-old playing in the Premier League, performing the way he did. I know it’s for Southampton, which is a different ball game to going to one of the giants of football. But, as a 19-year-old, the future looks great for him. He can do everything. There’s a rawness to his game. He runs with the ball an awful lot.
“But listen, there was a 19-year-old that went to Liverpool a long time ago, who used to run with the ball a lot and he didn’t end up doing too bad – oh, yeah, that 19-year-old was me,” laughs Nicol.
Lavia would transform at Liverpool
The football journey for Lavia has seen him go down some interesting roads, including being at Manchester City and now Southampton.
Yes, they struggled and went down last season. But they are known to bring in through some very top stars, even though Lavia didn’t come through their academy.
The recent campaign wasn’t great for Saints fans, but for Lavia himself, it would have done him the world of good. Made him tougher and he would have learnt more during these past 12 months than he has since he started his career at the top level.
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