In the ongoing tug-of-war between Chelsea and Liverpool for the coveted midfielder Romeo Lavia, it appears that Stamford Bridge is set to be his chosen destination over Anfield.
Amidst the intense negotiations between clubs, Romeo Lavia seems to lean towards Chelsea as his preferred next club. Talks are progressing, and the West London team is in the lead to secure his services, offering a more extended contract than Anfield.
Chelsea seems to have once again outmaneuvered Liverpool, as Romeo Lavia appears poised to opt for a move to the capital over Merseyside.
Romeo Lavia appears close to leaving Southampton (Image: Getty Images)
Southampton is anticipated to accept Chelsea’s substantial offer for their prized midfielder, initially valued at £50 million, with potential add-ons. It has come to light that Liverpool has been informed of Lavia’s inclination towards Chelsea, as initially reported by The Athletic.
This development follows closely on the heels of Chelsea’s other recent victory over Liverpool, where they secured British football’s record-breaking transfer by obtaining Moises Caicedo from Brighton for a staggering £115 million.
Romeo Lavia, a 19-year-old talent, has not been featured in Southampton’s first two Championship fixtures, as his anticipated departure by the end of the transfer window has been widely speculated.
Liverpool’s attempts to secure the Belgium player have been met with several rejected bids, as Southampton held out for their £50 million valuation. The most recent offer from Liverpool, early last week, stood at £46 million.
Negotiating personal terms is not expected to pose a hurdle for Romeo Lavia, as he is set to be presented with an extended contract—following the trend for young players transitioning to Stamford Bridge under the ownership of their American stakeholders.
Meanwhile, the completion of Moises Caicedo‘s transfer to Chelsea is also on the horizon, with a deal reached between Chelsea and Brighton over the weekend.
Liverpool faced another setback after having their bid for Caicedo accepted by Brighton, only for Chelsea to swoop in with a more lucrative offer. Caicedo, an Ecuadorian international, decided in favor of the capital switch, adding to Liverpool’s disappointment.
With these acquisitions, Chelsea’s summer signings would reach a dozen, exceeding £300 million in total spending. While they have offloaded 13 players, concerns have arisen about their adherence to financial fair play regulations, especially given their substantial outlays exceeding £600 million last season.
(Image: Matt Watson/Southampton FC via Getty Images)
Speculation also continues to link Chelsea with a potential move for Crystal Palace’s Michael Olise, whose valuation is around £45 million according to the South London club.
Barring unforeseen obstacles, both Caicedo and Lavia could potentially make their debuts for Mauricio Pochettino’s side in the upcoming Premier League match against West Ham on Sunday. This coincides with West Ham’s announcement of James Ward-Prowse’s acquisition from Southampton for £30 million earlier on Monday.
Liverpool, grappling with a void in their midfield due to the departures of Fabinho and Jordan Henderson to the Saudi Pro League, as well as the expiration of James Milner and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s contracts in June, is in dire need of reinforcements. While Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister have arrived, Jurgen Klopp’s squad still requires a defensive-minded player. The name of Real Madrid’s Aurelien Tchouameni has been linked, although the La Liga giants are reluctant to part with the French player.
