Chelsea’s pursuit of midfielder Romeo Lavia from Southampton seems to be advancing, with reports indicating that they are nearing the completion of a £55 million deal.
This young talent has been the subject of a heated transfer battle between Chelsea and Liverpool. Despite Liverpool’s three unsuccessful bids for Lavia, Southampton has remained firm on their £50 million valuation.
Southampton appears open to reaching an agreement with Chelsea, as the Blues have submitted an offer surpassing the valuation set by the south coast club.
Chelsea manager, Mauricio Pochettino has held a longstanding admiration for Lavia and seems to be closing in on securing the young midfielder one of his key targets for the summer transfer window.
If the proposed £55 million deal goes through, Southampton stands to profit from Lavia’s transfer back to the Premier League, following the team’s relegation last season. The former Manchester City player moved to Southampton for a mere £14 million last year, which means the potential deal with Chelsea would yield a substantial profit for the club.
Manchester City, despite having a £40 million buy-back option, chose not to exercise it allowing Lavia’s move to Southampton. Liverpool, on the other hand, might re-enter negotiations for Lavia with Jurgen Klopp keen on not losing out on two midfield prospects to a Premier League rival.
However, Liverpool would need to match or surpass Chelsea’s £55 million offer to persuade Southampton.
