Gab Marcotti has stated that Romeo Lavia will find life ‘very different’ ahead of his rumoured transfer from Southampton to Liverpool.
The European football expert pointed out that the 19-year-old is jumping from a pretty poor relegated Southampton side to a Liverpool team that will be pushing for the Premier League title this forthcoming season and that’s a ‘really big step up’.
The Italian journalist even questioned why Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola was happy to sell Romeo Lavia to Southampton last summer and whether he ‘knows something we don’t’, as we told ESPN.
Jordan Henderson has left Anfield after 12 years of service – Reece James and James Carragher reacted to his exit.
And now there is talk that Fabinho could follow suit to Saudi Arabia, with Darren Bent surprised by the ‘silly rumour’ doing the rounds about him.
That just increases Liverpool’s chances of signing Lavia, with claims that they are the ‘top favourites’ to land his signature, with Marcotti sharing his thoughts.
“This is remarkable,” said Marcotti. “He was at Manchester City. He moved to Southampton for, I think, under £20 million. He has had a very good season.
“But, all of a sudden, Southampton are talking £50 million. I think Liverpool see him as an alternative. For this to happen, they need to shift Henderson and Fabinho. It does feel like a really big step up when you consider the guy isn’t even 20 yet.
“The thing about Lavia that makes it interesting is when you watch the Premier League, there is almost like a divide because you have got the big dominant teams of 60-70% possession, the other teams don’t and they are always changing.
“He isn’t just coming from Southampton. He is coming from a bad relegated Southampton with three managers. Playing for Liverpool is going to be a very different experience. Before that, he did come through the ranks at Man City, so he is comfortable in that big club environment.
“You could ask the question ‘why didn’t Pep (Guardiola) believe in him a little bit more?’ Does Pep know something that we don’t? Was there just no room for him at Man City? Those questions would come into it.”
‘Incredible’ Lavia can thrive at Liverpool
The previous campaign was one to forget for Liverpool and one that required new faces to enter the building this summer – Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai have already arrived.
But with James Milner, Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Jordan Henderson already out of the door – with Fabinho possibly following suit, then are Mac Allister, Szoboszlai and possibly Lavia enough as replacements?
Some would argue not, but if they can secure Lavia’s talents, then it would be a brilliant signing, with Pep Guardiola previously calling the player ‘incredible’ in April (Manchester City website).
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