Liverpool and Southampton have done plenty of business in the past, with the majority of agreements benefiting the Reds
Liverpool hasn’t gone shopping on the south coast in a long time.
The Reds were formerly frequent clients at Southampton Football Club, with many joking that Michael Edwards must have a loyalty card, given the number of players who have moved from St Mary’s to Anfield in the last decade.
It started with childhood red Rickie Lambert in a £4.5m trade, but Liverpool quickly caught up. Adam Lallana was signed for £25 million, Dejan Lovren for £20 million, and Nathaniel Clyne was signed for £12.5 million the following summer.
Sadio Mane became the first major signing of the Jurgen Klopp era in a £30 million swap a year later, until things got a little complicated in summer 2017.
Liverpool were attempting to recruit Virgil van Dijk, their fifth Southampton signing in four years, at the time, but the Saints were not ready to play ball. With Liverpool’s interest well-publicized and a meeting between Klopp and the Dutchman taking place in a Blackpool hotel, Southampton had had enough of their best customer and threatened to denounce the Reds to the Premier League for an improper approach to their player.
Liverpool apologized, backtracked, and began repairing relations, with Edwards engaging with opposite number Les Reed to smooth things over – and secure a £75 million move for Van Dijk in the winter window.
Liverpool stopped doing business with Southampton at this moment, with the exception of a loan and subsequent sale of Danny Ings for £20 million in 2019.
But, with the Reds back in talks for Romeo Lavia, a midfielder for whom they have already had a £38 million proposal rejected, it’s worth taking a look back at how some of those agreements played out.
Let us begin with the positive.
Van Dijk has been a huge success at Liverpool and is expected to be the club’s future captain following the departure of Jordan Henderson. Building bridges with the Saints was definitely worthwhile, with some considering the Dutchman to be the best signing of the Klopp era.
But it’s easy to forget how risky his signing was. Many scoffed at the amount at the time, with the general impression being that Liverpool had been taken to the cleaners by Southampton, who had all the cards after the Reds’ humiliating climbdown the previous summer.
Nobody feels that way these days.
Similarly, some praised Manchester United for completing a £26 million move for Henrikh Mkhitaryan the following summer, although Liverpool paid £4 million more for the Senegal winger.
Mane scored 120 goals for Liverpool over a six-year period. Within two years, Mkhitaryan had left United.
However, it has not always been a big success.
Both Dejan Lovren and Adam Lallana departed Liverpool with their heads held high and a slew of accolades to their names. However, both players had difficult starts with the club and had their detractors throughout their tenure at Anfield. It may be claimed that Liverpool overpaid for both of them.
Meanwhile, Nathaniel Clyne was steady, albeit forgettable, throughout his time on Merseyside. While Rickie Lambert was only £4.5 million, it was a risk that didn’t pay off for anyone.
Lavia will aim to be in the top tier, but if he helps his team win titles, as Lovren and Lallana did, few would grumble.
He also has a strong pedigree. According to Hampshire Live reporter Mark Wyatt, he is a “8 out of 10 player every week.”
Liverpool would undoubtedly hope that a return to shopping in comparable settings brings results.
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