Liverpool have agreed a £60million fee to sign Romeo Lavia from Southampton, according to reports.

The midfielder still has interest from Chelsea, however, and will have to be convinced by the Reds to move to Anfield instead.

However, the deal is not yet cut and dry, with Chelsea also in the frame for the Southampton starlet, who impressed a number of clubs in his debut season in the Premier League last term.

The Blues could still trump Liverpool to his signature, which would be a bitter blow not just to their midfield rebuild this summer, but perhaps also to their credibility in the transfer market.

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp is desperate to bolster his midfield before the end of the transfer window.

The German thought his side had agreed a deal to sign Moises Caicedo from Brighton last week.

Reds chiefs agreed to pay the Seagulls £111m to sign the midfielder, only for Caicedo to snub them in favour of a move to Stamford Bridge.

According to the Guardian’s Jacob Steinberg, Liverpool are now desperate to beat Chelsea to the signing of Lavia.

But with Joe Shields- Chelsea’s director of recruitment and talent- it might be difficult for Liverpool to sign the youngster.

Shields was responsible for signing Lavia at Southampton last summer, and this relationship may give Chelsea the upper hand in securing the midfielder.

Club bosses had previously refused to bid more than £45m for the Saints’ 19-year-old midfielder.

But following Chelsea’s emergence and after losing out on Caicedo, Liverpool appear to have changed their stance.

There are concerns at Anfield, however, that Lavia also prefers a move to Stamford Bridge.

Lavia made 29 Premier League appearances for Saints last term following his move from Manchester City.

He was an unused substitute in their Championship season opener against Sheffield Wednesday on August 4, but has not featured since.

They have since agreed to sign Caicedo in a British-record £115m deal, but indications suggest this hasn’t ended their interest in Lavia.

Klopp fielded an extremely attacking midfield trio of Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai and Cody Gakpo for the Reds’ 1-1 draw at Chelsea yesterday.

Liverpool have lost midfielders Fabinho, Jordan Henderson and James Milner this summer.

Tags: Chelsea, Liverpool, Romeo Lavia