Chelsea hope to sign Mauricio Pochettino soon, and they have already started identifying transfer targets for him, including Romeo Lavia.
A report from Football Insider claims that Chelsea are looking to sign Southampton midfielder Romeo Lavia this summer. The 19-year-old, also a target for Arsenal and Manchester United, could cost £45 million.
Romeo Lavia has been an important player for Southampton, and he has impressed with his individual performances despite the Saints’ struggles. The talented youngster could prove to be a solid, long-term investment for Chelsea. And he could be the ideal replacement for N’Golo Kante if the Frenchman decides to leave the club this summer.
The Chelsea legend will be out of contract this summer, and he is yet to pen an extension with them. Ideally, the Blues will want to hold on to him for as long as possible. But they will have to start planning for alternatives in case he decides to leave.
Lavia is well-settled in the Premier League and he could make an immediate impact at Stamford Bridge next season. The 19-year-old defensive midfielder will help protect the central defenders and add physicality and defensive discipline in the middle of the park. He has thus emerged as a viable target for Chelsea.
The Blues are looking to build a formidable squad capable of challenging for major trophies in the long term. And the 19-year-old is certainly a prodigious talent capable of performing at a higher level. He could also be the ideal partner for Enzo Fernandes at the heart of Chelsea’s midfield.
The 19-year-old could shoulder the defensive responsibilities and allow the Argentine to dictate the tempo of the game and create goalscoring opportunities for his teammates. Chelsea lack a specialist defensive midfielder apart from Kante, interestingly a target for Arsenal. So signing Lavia could prove to be a wise decision from the West London club.
Southampton are currently fighting for their survival in the Premier League. And if they go down to the Championship at the end of the season, the 19-year-old will look to move on and take the next step in his career. Meanwhile, the Blues have already contacted Lavia’s entourage to hash out a £45 million deal.
A move to Chelsea is likely to be a tempting opportunity for him. And a top-class coach like Pochettino could help him develop further and fulfil his tremendous potential. Arsenal and Manchester United are keen on signing the defensive midfielder as well.
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So it remains to be seen whether Chelsea can fend off the competition from their rivals and sign the player. Both Manchester United and Arsenal are likely to be able to offer him Champions League football, which could give them an edge in the transfer race.
