Liverpool urged to complete £100 million signing if they want to challenge Man City

Liverpool have been urged to bid for Brighton midfielder Moises Caicedo as a solution to their midfield crisis.

Chelsea, who have been leading the chase to sign the 20-year-old, have now made a £48 million bid to sign Romeo Lavia from Southampton, stepping on Liverpool's toes in the process.

The Reds are set to visit Stamford Bridge in the first game of the Premier League season on Sunday and with an added transfer twist to the tie, it should be a fiercely fought game.

While they have yet to throw their hat in the ring, Liverpool bidding for Caicedo would thrill fans even if it's hugely unlikely based on FSG's approach to the transfer market.

Gary Neville urges Liverpool to bid £100million for Caicedo

While speaking on Sky Sports' The Overlap, the former Manchester United right back's comments struck a chord with Liverpool fans.

It's rare that Neville has Liverpool fans in his corner on any topic but frustration over the gap between Liverpool and their rivals in the transfer market is rising.

Neville said: "They should just be going and getting Caicedo now for him and saying 'right, there you go, that's dealt with, it's sorted, it's £100m'.

"But they're not. They're trying to pinch someone off Southampton for 40 million quid [Lavia], who's a good player don't get me wrong, but Jurgen Klopp needs the real deal.

"They can't challenge Manchester City with a player who's got potential, they need to do it with a player who's real. I do think it's going to come back on the owners at some point."

While Caicedo, who is a no.8, wouldn't solve Liverpool's lack of depth in the no.6 department, the overall argument Neville is making is apt.

Supporters aren't even asking for the club to spend huge sums on each signing. Instead, they're bemoaning the seeming lack of urgency in the club's transfer activity.

Even if Liverpool beat Chelsea to Lavia now, he will still have missed out on the entirety of pre-season which is vital to players adapting to Jurgen Klopp's tactics.

Regarding the club's wasteful approach to the transfer market, the major sadness is that they're wasting valuable years in the careers of the likes of Klopp, Alisson, van Dijk and Salah.