Romeo Lavia set for medical as Liverpool submit second bid

Liverpool have 'officially sent' a second bid for Southampton's Romeo Lavia with the transfer edging towards completion.

The Reds saw an initial offer of around £37m rejected earlier this week, with the Saints keen to extract maximum value from their asset, who is also wanted by Chelsea.

It is understood that Liverpool and Lavia have already agreed terms, with all the credible reporting suggesting that only an agreement between the two clubs over price is holding up the transfer.

Belgian transfer reporter Sacha Tavolieri tweeted on Wednesday morning that Liverpool have now submitted a follow-up offer worth £45m to Southampton for the 19-year-old star.

He claimed that the clubs are in 'meticulous' talks over the deal structure and add-ons, while suggesting that the transfer is now only a matter of days away.

Perhaps most sensationally, Tavolieri adds that Lavia will be allowed to undergo a medical in order to complete the transfer in time to join up with his new teammates for their trip to Singapore this week.

The Reds will play two fixtures in the Far East, first taking on Leicester (Sunday, 30 July) and then facing Bayern Munich (Wednesday, 2 August).

READ MORE: Romeo Lavia — what Southampton's transition killer would bring to Liverpool

Lavia has emerged as Liverpool's preferred transfer target to replace the imminently departing Fabinho, and will be the third midfield recruit this summer, following the arrivals of Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai for a combined £95m.

However, the exits of James Milner, Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Arthur Melo — in addition to Jordan Henderson and Fabinho — mean the Reds are still several bodies lighter in terms of midfield depth.

In addition to the pursuit of Lavia, Liverpool are tipped to look at options to strengthen at centre back (though are unlikely to spend big on the position this summer).