Phil Thompson: £50m too much for Liverpool target Romeo Lavia

Liverpool are still in the market for new midfielders. They’ve already signed Argentina’s World Cup winner Alexis Mac Allister from Brighton and taken the much-fancied Dominik Szoboszlai from RB Salzburg.

With Saudi Arabia making moves for both Jordan Henderson and Fabinho, Thommo’s told Paddy Power News that Liverpool need more options in the centre of the park and gives his thoughts on players moving to Saudi and whether a wantaway Man City man could fit in at Liverpool.

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Lavia one for the future

He’s 19 years old and will cost Liverpool over £50m. We’ve let Fabio Carvalho move out on loan because he’s maybe not ready. It’s one thing playing for Southampton, playing for Liverpool’s going to be another.

As a holding midfielder player, you’re going to have certain qualities and are they seeing him as a potential Fabinho replacement? Maybe so.

They may be thinking he’s one to bolster that midfield in the long run. We have strengthened the midfield already this summer with Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai.

I think he’s a very good player, I’m probably doing him down here, but at 19, for him to hold down that role for Liverpool… I see it as a big ask. At over £50m, which is what Southampton want for him, I think it’s going to need a bit of negotiation.

Henderson has a big decision to make

When it’s the players who are over 30 heading to Saudi Arabia I get it. It’s just like with the LIV Golf. I didn’t like what was happening but I could see that the golfers moving were in the 35-45 bracket or older.

It was mostly players who were not anywhere near the higher rankings these days. The money is incredible and the offer for Jordan Henderson is supposed to be nearly quadruple what he’s on at Liverpool which is mind blowing.

At 33 you’d be going, ‘Wow!’ Did he play as much as he wanted to at Anfield last season? With the new players coming in and if he stays and doesn’t play does that damage his legacy at Liverpool?

There’s an awful lot to weigh up. If I was talking to Jordan I would say weigh up the positives, weigh up the negatives. Have a good long think about it because it is a big decision.

People are bringing his place in the England squad into the mix as well. I know he played very well in the last couple of internationals but he was never really first choice for Gareth Southgate. I would think he’s certainly got to give a lot of thought to the proposal.

Silva doesn’t fit Reds’ profile

Manchester City’s Bernardo Silva’s been linked with a move to Saudi as well but he’s only 28 so it would be a massive coup for their league to get him. He’s been linked with transfers over the last few summers, I can remember talk of Paris St-Germain and Barcelona. Do you know who they’re talking about this year? Liverpool!

Bernardo Silva has been the arch enemy of a lot of Liverpool fans in the last few seasons. I wonder if that link’s been started by the Man City fans for a bit of fun!

But, he’s a good player and for him to be going to the Saudi league I think that would be a bit of a coup. Jordan is five years older than Bernardo.

He would be a good fit in terms of ability and style but it’s another one who’s 28, another one heading into his 30s. He’s a fantastic footballer, he’s brilliant in possession and very creative but I wouldn’t say he would be the right signing.

As you can see with our recent signings, I wouldn’t think his age fits the profile Jurgen Klopp is looking for at the moment.