Barcelona were considering moving for Romeo Lavia to fill a void in midfield, but the £50 million-rated star’s price tag was a problem.
According to Florian Plettenberg, Barcelona hold an interest in Romeo Lavia. The Belgian looks increasingly likely to leave Southampton this summer, with heavy admiration from top Premier League clubs, who are ready to make a move. Bur Barcelona cannot afford the youngster due to his £50 million price tag.
Romeo Lavia could become the next big subject of this transfer window as speculation around his future keeps increasing. The 19-year-old impressed many top clubs with some mature performances for Southampton last season but could not help them avoid relegation.
The demotion to the Championship allows Lavia to move on from Southampton and take up a bigger challenge. Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool are planning on moving for the forward. But under the current circumstances, any transfer may not happen immediately.
The Gunners are focused on sales, while Chelsea consider the £50 million-rated star as an alternative to priority target Moises Caicedo. Liverpool’s interest has confusing elements, as recent reports have suggested they may have backed away due to the asking price.
Roméo #Lavia, there are still concrete talks with Chelsea, Arsenal, especially with Liverpool as Klopp is a big fan! #LFC
➡️ Been told that his price tag is around £50m this summer!
Confirmed: Barcelona was targeting the 19 y/o but his price is not affordable for Barca this… pic.twitter.com/IpiUvVyAEo
— Florian Plettenberg (@Plettigoal) July 7, 2023
Another report claimed Southampton were reducing the asking price to £40 million. Manchester City have a buyback clause for next summer for that figure, which the Saints have benchmarked as the lowest they might go for. The new price point may appease Lavia’s suitors as background work continues.
Now, Barcelona are reportedly showing interest in the midfielder as Xavi Hernandez needs a new player in the middle. The departure of Sergio Busquets has left a huge gap in the position, with no viable targets brought in as the Spaniard’s replacement.
They were keen on Martin Zubimendi and Joshua Kimmich. But both are out of their price range. Hence, it’s safe to assume Barcelona will struggle to cope with Lavia’s £50 million asking price in the current climate. They are keen to balance their books, which could see a few key stars depart for sizeable money.
Lavia remains an interesting idea for Barcelona. But even at £40 million, they will struggle to find the money to sign the midfielder. Hence, the Catalans could remain on the periphery of this transfer story and could make a move if they find the funds somewhere. However, Lavia does seem destined to sign for one of the Premier League giants in this window, albeit in the latter stages.
