Southampton midfielder Romeo Lavia is reportedly closing in on a switch to Chelsea, who will beat Liverpool to his signature.
According to Belgian journalist Sacha Tavolieri, Chelsea have agreed on a £50 million deal to sign Romeo Lavia. The 19-year-old defensive midfielder has been heavily linked with a move to Liverpool as well. But it seems that Chelsea have now beaten their Premier League rivals in the race for his signature.
Lavia was impressive for Southampton last season, and his performances managed to attract the attention of the big clubs. Although the player is only 19, he is certainly good enough to start regularly for clubs like Chelsea and Liverpool.
The Blues sanctioned the departure of club legend N’Golo Kante earlier this summer, and they will have to replace him adequately. Someone like Lavia would be a solid long-term investment. The 19-year-old Belgian will want to play in the top flight next season. So staying in the Championship with Southampton will not be an option for him.
The reported £50 million figure seems quite substantial, but the 19-year-old could end up justifying the outlay in the long run. Lavia will add defensive cover and physicality in the middle of the park for Chelsea.
🇧🇪 🔵 Been told #ChelseaFC got an agreement on 50M£ with #SouthamptonFC on Romeo Lavia.
The Blues finally reached the values of the #SaintsFC & wants to bypass #LiverpoolFC on their priority target as they did on Caicedo. The Belgian midfielder has already told some of his… pic.twitter.com/ZFMAPbzzaI— Sacha Tavolieri (@sachatavolieri) August 11, 2023
Meanwhile, the Blues are also thought to be trying for Moises Caicedo, who has snubbed a move to Liverpool. Just like Lavia, Liverpool are keen on the 21-year-old Brighton midfielder as well. Signing both Lavia and Caicedo would represent an exceptional bit of business for Chelsea.
The Blues have been very active in the transfer market since the change of ownership, and it will not be a surprise if they decide to splash the cash on the two players. The 19-year-old Belgian midfielder is a player with immense potential. And someone like Mauricio Pochettino could be the ideal manager to unlock his talent.
Lavia has all the tools to develop into a world-class defensive midfielder, and it remains to be seen how things evolve. Meanwhile, Liverpool will be disappointed with the development after chasing Lavia for several weeks. And it remains to be seen whether they decide to pursue other midfielders this summer.
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Liverpool have sanctioned the departures of Jordan Henderson and Fabinho this summer, and they will have to replace both players adequately. Signing Lavia or Caicedo would have been a major boost for them heading into the new season.
