Chelsea are hoping to sign Liverpool target Romeo Lavia from Southampton before the summer transfer window closes.
According to Fabrizio Romano, Liverpool are keen on signing Romeo Lavia as well. But Chelsea are now hoping to hijack the move, and they have submitted a £48 million bid for the 19-year-old defensive midfielder.
Despite Southampton’s relegation, the 19-year-old impressed with his performances last season, and he could be a solid, long-term acquisition for Chelsea. The Blues have been trying to sign Moises Caicedo from Brighton and Hove Albion for a while now. However, they have not been able to agree on a fee with the Seagulls for the 21-year-old midfielder.
It seems that Chelsea are now looking at other potential options, and Lavia will certainly be an interesting addition. The Belgian midfielder is highly rated in England and he has a big future ahead of him. He could be the ideal long-term replacement for N’Golo Kante, who left the club earlier this summer.
Chelsea need to bring in a reliable defensive midfielder, and the 19-year-old certainly fits the profile. Southampton are reportedly holding out for a fee of around £50 million, and Chelsea’s offer is the closest to their valuation. But widespread reports are suggesting that even a £48 million bid might not work.
Chelsea have submitted formal bid to Southampton for Roméo Lavia worth £48m fee 🚨🔵 #CFC
Negotiations ongoing between clubs as Liverpool last proposal was worth £45m and rejected. pic.twitter.com/6NjHx5o8ZB
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 9, 2023
Meanwhile, Liverpool have already had multiple offers rejected for the player, and it will be interesting to see if they decide to return with an improved offer following Chelsea’s re-emergence in the race. There is no doubt that Chelsea have more financial resources compared to Liverpool, and they will certainly stand a better chance of signing the player.
However, the Blues will not be competing in Europe next season, which could be a bit of a problem for them. Liverpool have missed out on Champions League qualification as well, but they have Europa League football to offer to prospective signings.
Furthermore, working under a world-class coach like Jurgen Klopp could be quite tempting for players, and Lavia might be keen on joining the Reds this summer. Liverpool have done plenty of groundwork on the transfer over the last few weeks, and there have been reports that the player is waiting for a move to Liverpool.
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It remains to be seen whether Chelsea can convince the player to join them once they have secured an agreement with his club. For now, Lavia’s future hangs in the balance following the latest update.
