Liverpool agree £60m transfer deal with Southampton for midfielder also wanted by Chelsea

Liverpool have agreed a deal with Southampton for Romeo Lavia.

However, Chelsea are still pushing to sign Lavia and had been close to an agreement with Saints late last week.

Liverpool have already missed out on Moises Caicedo to Chelsea. The Blues have agreed a deal with Brighton worth a British record £115m for Caicedo. That follows Liverpool having a £111m offer accepted only for the 21-year-old to inform them he intended to join Chelsea.

Southampton had been holding firm on their £50m valuation of 19-year-old Lavia. Chelsea had made an offer of £48m last week, while Liverpool had seen three previous offers turned down this summer.

Chelsea want to bring in two midfielders in this window and talks between them and Leeds United over the signing of Tyler Adams broke down last week after the parties were unable to reach an agreement.

Lavia has four years left on his Southampton contract after joining from Manchester City last summer but is expected to leave after Saints were relegated from the Premier League last season.