Liverpool have been looking at signing Romeo Lavia all summer long, but now could face stiff competition from their Premier League rivals.
Liverpool have been in talks with the Saints for months over the deal which saw their first bid rejected.
Talks however have continued, with the Reds expected to return with a second and improved offer as Jurgen Klopp seems keen to complete his midfield overhaul.
Southampton are believed to be holding out for a fee of £50million, which is a number that the Anfield outfit are not keen to match.
The latest development of additional interest however may force Liverpool to move quickly and get the deal done.
The rival interest comes from their most bitter foes too, which would make missing out all the more painful.
United also interested in Lavia
According to reports, Manchester United have also been looking on with interest at Lavia, with a potential late move to scupper Liverpool’s plans.
According to Fabrizio Romano, United have been ‘looking at’ Lavia as a potential option in midfield.
United are keen on bringing a second midfielder in to join Mason Mount, and see Lavia as an option along with Fiorentina’s Sofyan Amrabat.
Romano does add however that no ‘concrete talks’ have taken place yet but with United wrapping up their striker signing, a midfielder is next on the agenda.
The high interest in Lavia makes a departure highly likely despite Russell Martin claiming the midfielder could remain at St. Marys.
This also makes a replacement necessary as one midfielder has already left this summer, with James Ward-Prowse likely to leave as well.