Liverpool are expected to table a fourth bid for Roméo Lavia after their third offer, worth about £45m, was rejected by Southampton.
The Championship club are determined to hold out for £50m for the 19-year-old Belgium midfielder. Lavia, also admired by Chelsea, is a key target for Liverpool as they continue to rebuild their midfield after the departures of Jordan Henderson and Fabinho to Saudi Arabia.
Lavia, whom Southampton signed from Manchester City for an initial £10.5m last summer, was on the bench for the Saints’ opening-day victory at Sheffield Wednesday last Friday.
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Mohamed Salah is committed to Liverpool and will not be the next high-profile player to move to Saudi Arabia, his agent has confirmed.
The Egypt international is the latest Liverpool player linked with the Saudi Pro League, with reports over the weekend claiming Al-Ittihad are prepared to offer the 31-year-old forward a two-year contract worth €180m (£141m). Al-Ittihad, who recently bought Fabinho from Liverpool for £40m, would also be willing to tempt the club with a bid of about £52m.
Salah’s agent, Ramy Abbas Issa, however, has ruled out Liverpool’s leading striker following his former teammates Henderson, Fabinho, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mané to Saudi Arabia this summer.
“If we considered leaving LFC this year, we wouldn’t have renewed the contract last summer,” he tweeted. “Mohamed remains committed to LFC.”
Salah signed a new three-year contract at Liverpool last summer that makes him the highest-paid player in the club’s history.
The Saudi Pro League advance on Anfield has disrupted Jürgen Klopp’s midfield rebuild and left Liverpool seeking a new defensive midfielder.
