Liverpool have made contact with Southampton over a attainable deal for midfielder Romeo Lavia, so what might he provide if he made the transfer?
Lavia, the 19-year-old Belgian, is amongst Liverpool’s switch targets as Jurgen Klopp rebuilds his midfield ranks this summer season.
Having solely arrived from Man Metropolis final summer season, curiosity within the teenager comes on the again of a standout first marketing campaign as a senior participant through which he made 35 appearances.
Liverpool are reported to have enquired over the potential for a cope with relegated Southampton, whereas additionally they think about strikes for different midfielders.
Although he was an everyday all through the Premier League season, Lavia should still be a relative unknown for a lot of supporters on Merseyside.
So if he had been to affix Liverpool this summer season, what do we have to know?
To listen to extra about Lavia and his potential as a participant, This Is Anfield spoke to Fraser Spinney (@FraserSpinney21), Southampton author for Analytics United.
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Firstly, what kind of midfielder is Romeo Lavia?
Lavia is a defensive midfield participant who has finished his greatest work as a lone pivot/No. 6.
He’s a combative midfielder who likes to get caught in, as proven by his 9 yellow playing cards final season, very fast throughout the bottom and makes plenty of challenges.
He’s additionally excellent in buildup and comfy taking the ball beneath strain, all the time making himself an choice to obtain a move.
When he has bought additional ahead he hasn’t regarded misplaced in any respect, and scored an excellent objective in opposition to Chelsea from the sting of the field final season.
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What are his strengths?
Arguably, his greatest energy is that he’s extremely press-resistant.
As talked about, he is superb within the buildup part and serving to his staff construct by way of the thirds of the pitch.
Such was his efficiency on this operate final season that plenty of opponents man-marked him when Southampton had the ball on the again – as groups recognized when you cease the availability line of passes to Lavia, you prohibit their potential to move out.
Contemplating final season was Lavia’s first as a senior participant his composure and maturity had been fairly outstanding, in addition to his consistency in efficiency.
Why do Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool wish to signal Roméo Lavia? ?#SquawkaScout pic.twitter.com/L4kStHD6N2
— Squawka (@Squawka) June 29, 2023
He is an efficient passer and barely loses the ball, and considered one of his key strengths is one-on-one duels each defensively and offensively, beating his marker with a drop of the shoulder or sharp flip.
While his quick passing is superb, he’s additionally proficient at progressing the ball by way of his dribbling or extra direct ahead passing.
He has an important burst of tempo and his positioning not often lets him down.
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Have there been any weaknesses in his recreation?
He’s younger so he’ll errors at instances, though I might say I can’t keep in mind seeing a midfielder as composed and mature as him at his age.
The opener within the final-day 4-4 draw between Liverpool and Southampton was a superb instance of these errors, as Lavia misplaced a move in his personal field and Jota scored as a direct outcome.
One in all his greatest property is that he’s ready to take dangers and duty regardless of his age, however this can be pricey if the ball is misplaced, significantly given he’s typically working on the base of the midfield.
He’s additionally not one of the best aerially, however could make up for this along with his positioning to some extent.
Not a weak spot per se, however he did miss six weeks early on final season with a hamstring harm.
Ralph Hasenhuttl admitted on the time that maybe Southampton had overused him so early in his profession, having by no means made a senior aggressive look previous to final season.
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Who would you examine him to as a midfielder?
It’s fairly laborious to pinpoint which gamers Lavia resembles in enjoying fashion, as he’s comparatively distinctive in his attributes.
They’re very completely different in stature, however there’s an air of ex-Tottenham midfielder Moussa Dembele about him in the way in which he glides previous challenges and manages to wriggle his means out of tight areas, regardless of the very fact they play in areas the place you’re typically in hassle when you lose the ball.
His footwork is paying homage to the likes of Paul Pogba and ex-Saint Mario Lemina in the way in which he makes use of trickery and his physique to evade challenges, though it should be stated his performances are way more constant than Lemina’s.
He is superb at retaining possession along with his passing but in addition seems to interrupt the traces when the time is correct, which makes him a helpful participant in transition and when sprinting for counter-attacks.
The way in which he covers floor defensively and his potential to scent hazard are N’Golo Kante-esque at instances, though he has a protracted solution to go earlier than he reaches the effectiveness defensively of Kante in his prime.
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Might you see him becoming into Liverpool’s system, both in a 3-box-3 or a 4-3-3?
While given his age he might not get into the staff immediately, he might comfortably play as No. 6 or No. 8 – although he’s so good because the lone pivot position it might nearly be a waste to make use of him anyplace else.
I can see him taking on from Fabinho, or no less than giving Jurgen Klopp an actual choice to make there.
It’s troublesome to envisage him lining up alongside Fabinho fairly often given their related skillsets and the way in which Liverpool play.
In a 3-box-3 alongside Trent Alexander-Arnold getting into midfield they may kind a really efficient duo.
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Might he make the step as much as Liverpool subsequent season?
One-hundred p.c he might.
He’s nonetheless very younger and has solely performed one season of senior soccer however he actually does have the makings of a world-class midfielder.
His vitality, potential to learn the sport and his composure are unimaginable and he’ll solely get higher.
* Thanks once more to Fraser Spinney for the lowdown on Romeo Lavia. Observe Fraser on Twitter @FraserSpinney21.
