Instead of Lavia, Liverpool should sign ace ‘famous for his physical prowess’, available for £30m

Instead of Lavia, Liverpool should sign ace ‘famous for his physical prowess’, available for £30m

Luke Weaser-SeychellWed 26 July 2023 3:45 pm, UKLiverpool are strongly linked to Romeo Lavia and it looks like they could close with signing him this summer, but Youssouf Fofana looks like a better option.Reports have suggested that Liverpool have been in contact with Lavia’s agents. They are clearly very interested in the central midfielder. New reports have shared that they are preparing a bid worth around £45m.The 19-year-old appears to be a brilliant talent. However, there is an argument to suggest that Fofana, who is already linked with Premier League sides, would be a better signing.The midfielder is reportedly currently attracting interest from Premier League side West Ham. They’re looking for a replacement for Declan Rice.Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty ImagesLiverpool should sign Fofana instead of LaviaFofana is 24 years old and seems to be closer to reaching his full potential than Lavia currently. This makes sense given the ages of the two. Liverpool need a midfielder for the present, not the future. Lavia can probably already play at a decent level in the Premier League.Despite this, there are certainly doubts that he can play at the higher level required of Liverpool.Fofana is “famous for his physical prowess” and his stats from last season sum up how good a player he is currently in France.Fbref shows how similar the two are on a defensive level. Fofana had 2.35 tackles per 90, 1.49 interceptions per 90, and 1.38 blocks per 90. Meanwhile, Lavia had 2.43 tackles per 90, 1.34 interceptions per 90, and 1.90 blocks per 90.Photo by Jonathan Moscrop/Getty ImagesAlthough their defensive stats are very similar, Fofana can also wield great influence in attack, which Lavia may be lacking at this stage of his career.Fofana managed 7.24 progressive passes per 90 and 2.54 progressive runs per 90. Lavia, meanwhile, managed 4.13 progressive passes per 90 and 0.89 progressive runs per 90. Moreover, Fofana is reportedly available for just £30million. This would mean that Liverpool have a l