Chelsea in £48m plunge for Southampton midfielder Romeo Lavia after Liverpool rejected three bids for 19-year-old…with Championship club holding out for £50m

Chelsea are looking to trump Liverpool for one of their top targets after making a £48 million bid, including add-ons for Southampton midfielder Romeo Lavia.

The Championship side have committed £50 million and rejected a £46 million offer from Liverpool – their third bid – on Monday.

Southampton, who have agreed to sell James Ward-Prowse to West Ham for £30m, are also expecting interest from Manchester United.

A foreign team has also made careful inquiries about the 19-year-old Belgian.

Southampton are confident in their valuation as they believe Manchester City are ready to trigger their £45m buyback clause, which comes into effect next summer.

The Championship side have earmarked £50 million for the 19-year-old midfielder

Saints star Lavia (left) is actively pursued by Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp (right)

Needing midfield reinforcements, Chelsea have negotiated £105 million Moises Caicedo with Brighton and are expected to offer £20 million for Leeds United’s Tyler Adams.

But this offer from Lavia will also be a test of Liverpool’s determination.

The Anfield club have considered improving their offer or shifting their sights to Fluminense midfielder Andre.

Lavia was omitted from Southampton’s match squad for Tuesday’s EFL Cup tie against League Two side Gillingham – and was also an unused substitute for Southampton as Russell Martin’s side began the new Championship season with an away win over Sheffield Wednesday.

He may leave the club this summer if a buyer reaches the South Coast side’s £50 million valuation, a fee that Liverpool have so far failed to match.

Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher branded his former club “shameful” for their hitherto unsuccessful pursuit of Lavia and called on them to either strike a deal or walk away rather than continue negotiating a lower price.

“This is embarrassing,” the Sky Sports pundit wrote on Twitter, before later turning on colleague Gary Neville. “If you don’t think he’s worth £50 million, move on. If you really want him, pay him.

“I’m also not sure why LFC don’t choose Caicedo, yes it’s a lot of money, but Liverpool got a lot of money for JH (Jordan Henderson) and FAB (Fabinho).”

It didn’t take Marcel long to respond to Carragher’s complaints, as he wrote back: ‘Do you now agree that Klopp has been protecting your owners for the past 5-6 years?’

Jamie Carragher blasted Liverpool on Twitter for their continued attempts to sign Lavia

Carragher (right) then hit back at Gary Neville (left) after his fellow pundit claimed Klopp had protected Liverpool’s owners in recent years

It comes as Jordan Henderson (pictured) and Fabinho both left the club for Saudi Arabia

Carragher immediately snapped back and replied: ‘Gary, you have no idea what’s going on at Liverpool! The owners have a self-sufficient model that Klopp bought and produced miracles!

“Part of that was a transfer department that Europe was jealous of. That is now gone with Klopp leading the club from top to bottom. LFC has had three DOFs in 18 months, the current one coming out of retirement to do the job for this summer, he is a close contact with the manager.

“Liverpool’s wage bill is 150 million more than Arsenal’s per season. Just do the math. Liverpool don’t have an investor (Peter Lim) like you do at Salford where you & boys just get on a plane at the end of the season begging him to spend more money!!’

The Merseyside team are looking for reinforcements in midfield following the departures of Jordan Henderson and Fabinho, both of whom recently signed for clubs in Saudi Arabia.

Alexis Mac Allister has arrived, as has Dominik Szoboszlai in a £60 million deal from RB Leipzig, but the Reds need more reinforcement in midfield after completely overhauling that area this summer.