Gary Neville tells Liverpool to spend £100m on Moises Caicedo or they won't challenge Man City

Gary Neville has told Liverpool to spend the £100million required to lure Moises Caicedo from Brighton.

Liverpool have signed Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai in a bid to bolster their midfield, after a trophyless season in which they finished four points adrift of the top four.

However, Jurgen Klopp has also sanctioned several departures this summer. Roberto Firmino, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain all left upon the expiry of their respective contracts.

Meanwhile, Jordan Henderson and Fabinho both departed the Reds for Saudi Arabia, generating around £52million combined.

In turn, Liverpool are desperately short in midfield with just days to go before the start of the new campaign.

While the Anfield club have pursued Romeo Lavia throughout the summer, Neville urged the club to bid £100million for Caicedo.

Liverpool to bid for Caicedo

Speaking on the Overlap, Neville stressed Liverpool needed to bid the money required for Caicedo rather than pursue Lavia.

The former Manchester United full-back said: “They should just be going and getting Caicedo now for him and saying ‘there you go, that’s dealt with and sorted, it’s £100m’, but they’re not, they’re trying to pinch somebody off Southampton for £40million.

“He’s a good player, don’t get me wrong, but Jurgen Klopp needs the real deal.

“They can’t do it [challenge Manchester City] with a player that’s got potential, they need to do it with a player that’s real.”

Earlier this week Southampton rejected Liverpool’s third bid for Lavia, understood to be in the region of £45million.

Talks reportedly remain ongoing with Southampton, but the Championship club are said to be standing firm on their £50million valuation of the teenager.

According to Sky Sports, Chelsea are also reportedly interested and keeping an eye on the Lavia situation.