Arsenal joins Chelsea and Liverpool in £50m Championship star race
Arsenal, Chelsea, and Liverpool are all in the running to sign Southampton midfielder Romeo Lavia for a reported £50m fee. The 19-year-old only signed for Southampton last summer from Manchester City, but after their relegation from the Premier League to the Championship, it looks set to be a swift exit from St Mary’s. Chelsea have already opened negotiations with Southampton over a deal, while Liverpool are plotting a bid for Lavia and have been in contact with the defensive midfielder’s representatives. Arsenal have also held talks with Lavia and have an “excellent relationship” with his camp, with the Gunners thought to have “concrete and strong interest” in bringing him to the Emirates.
Midfield Revamp at Arsenal
The north London club is having somewhat of a midfield revamp and is ready to cash in on Thomas Partey this summer with him and Granit Xhaka both set to leave the club in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, Manchester United are believed to admire Lavia but are not advancing their interest while City’s buy-back clause is only valid until 2024.
Southampton’s Valuable Asset
Lavia is one of Southampton’s most valuable assets, so they want to make sure they maximise their profit when he inevitably leaves. They are thought to be demanding as much as £50m for him. This is partly because there are several clauses in his contract signed after moving from City, including that his former club will receive 25% of any sell-on fee.
Other Southampton Players Attracting Interest
The likes of James Ward-Prowse, Kyle Walker-Peters, and Tino Livramento are all likely to attract bids from Premier League clubs too after Southampton were relegated, but the Saints are pushing for big prices. With the likes of Newcastle and Aston Villa interested in Ward-Prowse, the south coast club is also hoping for £50m for the England international.
Conclusion
The battle for Romeo Lavia’s signature is heating up, with Arsenal, Chelsea, and Liverpool all in the running to sign the Southampton midfielder. With a reported £50m fee, Southampton is hoping to maximise their profit when he inevitably leaves. The likes of James Ward-Prowse, Kyle Walker-Peters, and Tino Livramento are also likely to attract bids from Premier League clubs, with Southampton pushing for big prices. It remains to be seen which club will come out on top in the race for Lavia’s signature.