Manchester United are ready to swoop for Romeo Lavia after Liverpool's latest bid was rejected.

The midfielder, 19, is in demand after starring in a poor Southampton team despite their relegation.

Jurgen Klopp's Reds were thought to be leading the race for Lavia but have so far not managed to match the Saints' £50million valuation.

And The Independent claim that has opened the door to North West rivals United, although the Old Trafford club would have to offload players first to fund a deal.

Erik ten Hag has already splashed out on Mason Mount and Andre Onana, with a swoop for Atalanta's Rasmus Hojlund believed to be close.

Those signings should strengthen the Red Devils' spine but another midfielder is on the cards and Fiorentina star Sofyan Amrabat is also a target.

Liverpool will have a new-look engine room next season after parting with Jordan Henderson, Fabinho, Naby Keita and James Milner.

Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai have both come in as replacements but Klopp needs a holding midfielder and Lavia would be ideally suited to the German's all-action style.

In other news

Kylian Mbappe is open to joining Chelsea on a one-year deal from Paris Saint-Germain, according to reports in Spain.

German outlet Bild are claiming that Harry Kane is prepared to give up a huge chunk of his salary to get a Bayern Munich move over the line.

Arsenal defender Takehiro Tomiyasu is wanted by Inter Milan, according to reports in Italy.