According to Football. London, Arsenal seems to have fallen behind Chelsea and Liverpool in the race to sign 19-year-old Romeo Lavia.
The player’s potential transfer fee is estimated to be in the range of £40-£50 million, which is a substantial amount. However, it is understandable why Southampton would demand such a fee for Lavia.
Firstly, he emerged from Manchester City’s renowned youth academy before joining Southampton last year. Secondly, Lavia still has four years remaining on his contract, giving them leverage in negotiations. Lastly, in the current market where high transfer fees are commonplace, Southampton holds a high valuation for the talented young midfielder.
Lavia has already shown promise by representing the Belgium national team and making 34 appearances for the Saints across various competitions last season, which is impressive for a player of his age.
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Following Southampton’s relegation from the Premier League, the club is now facing the prospect of losing their talented players like Lavia, as top teams such as Chelsea, Arsenal, and Liverpool show interest in him.
Southampton’s relegation was marked by a disappointing performance, with the team occupying the bottom spot in the league for a significant portion of the final months. Lavia would naturally prefer to continue playing in the top division rather than dropping down to a lower league.
The midfielder has impressed observers with his dynamic performances in defensive midfield. His defensive abilities make him a tough player to beat, and he could provide the much-needed competition for an out-of-form Fabinho.
Under Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital’s ownership, Chelsea have been actively acquiring promising young talents from around the world, indicating their long-term focus on building a youthful squad.
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This approach positions them as genuine contenders for Lavia’s signature. Southampton might need to reconsider their valuation and be open to negotiating a more reasonable figure, especially considering the competition from Chelsea and Arsenal, which could potentially spark a bidding war.
However, the fact that Southampton have been relegated from the Premier League is a significant drawback in their pursuit of Lavia. It is likely that the Belgian star would prefer a move away from the Championship and continue playing in a higher division.
