Impatient Jurgen Klopp sets mini deadline on £50m Liverpool transfer as rival manager hits out: ‘It’s ridiculous’

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is hoping his side quickly reach an agreement to sign Romeo Lavia as the transfer saga threatens to rumble on past a perceived deadline imposed by the German.

Klopp, alongside new sporting director Jorg Schmadtke, are faced with the somewhat difficult task of rebuilding the Liverpool midfield this summer. Indeed, two signings have been made in the form of Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai. And while the pair both cost combined fees of £95m, their signings were relatively straightforward given clauses in both players’ deals.

However, getting signing number three over the line is proving far more troublesome. And with the Reds’ options depleted further by the imminent departures of Fabinho and Jordan Henderson – the latter of whom has sent fans an emotional message of goodbye – the onus is on Klopp and Schmadtke to get more bodies into the club.

As it stands, Liverpool face being five players in the midfield department. While the two previous players have been signed, Liverpool have also lost James Milner, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain as free agents. Arthur Melo has also returned to loan club Juventus – since moving on loan to Fiorentina – while Fabio Carvalho, another potential option, has been loaned out to RB Leipzig.

As a result, efforts to bring in Lavia have intensified in recent days.

However, Southampton have batted away the first Liverpool offer, reportedly worth £37m.

It’s claimed Saints are holding out for a fee of nearer £50m, leaving a current difference of £13m. And while that doesn’t sound like an unsurmountable difference, Liverpool do feel that £40m represents the top value for a relatively inexperienced star.

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Klopp wants Liverpool deal for Lavia wrapped up quickly

As a result, and while trusted Athletic reporter David Ornstein claims there is optimism a deal will be done, there remains plenty of talking to do between the two parties.

But with Liverpool about to embark on a pre-season tour of Singapore, Klopp had hoped a deal for the 19-year-old Belgian would have been wrapped up already. The Merseysiders’ jet off later on Thursday and, with time ticking away, it now seems unlikely that Lavia’s signing will be done ahead of the mini-deadline Klopp had imposed.

Liverpool face Leicester on Sunday and then Bayern Munich on Wednesday, before returning to the UK. And while his inclusion on the tour is not essential, Klopp had wanted him signed and sealed to be able to bond with his new teammates.

Instead, and when the deal gets done, Lavia is more likely to meet his new teammates upon their return to Merseyside.

As far as the fee is concerned, it is likely a package of around £45m will ultimately be agreed. The Reds will hope to make up a portion of that in bonuses and add-ons; Saints, meanwhile, will want as much of the money up front.

Even when that signing is done, Klopp appears far from finished in the transfer market. A replacement for Henderson will also be required next, with the departure of the captain leaving a huge hole.

To that end, a report claims Liverpool have a five-man wishlist of potential midfield recruits.

Saints boss hits out ot Romeo Lavia transfer talks

The saga, of course, is not just impact Liverpool, with Southampton’s preparations for the new season also being impacted by interest in Lavia.

Their EFL campaign begins in just eight days time when they take on Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough.

And their new manager Russell Martin feels the saga is proving a massively distraction for the club.

Still, he did opt to give Lavia a run-out in Tuesday’s 3-2 defeat to Bournemouth in their latest pre-season friendly.

And the boss appeared satisfied with his display, despite hitting out at the speculation on the player.

“I thought Romeo, considering what’s going on, to play tonight and do all that stuff, it was good for him to get on the pitch as he has not had the minutes other people have had,” Martin said.

“You can ask for an update but I can’t give you one because I don’t know. I’m going to speak to (sporting director) Jason (Wilcox) now but I’ve been preparing for this game.”

He added: “The transfer window should close before the start of the season – it’s ridiculous in my opinion and certainly not helpful.

“We’re a club that has been relegated and has a lot of talent that people are attracted to, but we’ll prepare as if they will be here because we have to. There’s no guarantee that anyone will leave, it’s a lot of work with 27 players or whatever but we’ll give everyone a chance to get on the pitch.”

As for Klopp, he commented: “There are so many things to do. The transfer window is open. If my day would have 28 hours at the moment it would not be a problem – I could fill them easily!

“Still three-and-a-half weeks until the first game of the season. A few things have to happen before then, definitely, transfer market-wise as well. That is clear now. And it will happen. New players have to come in. We will have a good team.”

READ MORE: The 69 midfielders Liverpool have been linked with in the transfer gossip columns this summer