Chelsea are making impressive strides in their pursuit of highly rated Southampton midfielder Romeo Lavia, surpassing Liverpool in the race for his signature. While the 19-year-old has attracted interest from both clubs, it is understood that Chelsea have entered into advanced talks to acquire the talented Belgian prospect.
Southampton had previously accepted Liverpool’s £60m bid for Lavia, indicating their willingness to part ways with the promising young talent. However, recent developments suggest that Liverpool may fall short yet again in their quest to bolster their midfield ranks.
This setback follows Chelsea’s recent triumph over Liverpool in securing the signing of Moises Caicedo from Brighton & Hove Albion, a move that was confirmed on Monday evening.
According to Sky Sports News, discussions between Chelsea and Southampton have progressed favorably, with Lavia expressing a strong desire to join the Stamford Bridge outfit. Cautious optimism surrounds Chelsea’s camp as they believe a deal with Lavia is likely to materialize in the near future.
Given Lavia’s eagerness to don the Chelsea jersey, finalizing personal terms is expected to be a smooth process, further enhancing the chances of a successful transfer.
This situation closely mirrors the Caicedo saga, wherein Liverpool initially had an accepted offer but saw the player’s preference shift towards London. Similarly, Lavia did not travel to Merseyside for a medical examination, strongly indicating his inclination to snub Jurgen Klopp’s side in favor of joining Mauricio Pochettino’s project.
As the imminent move progresses, Lavia has been omitted from Southampton’s lineup for the Championship and EFL Cup fixtures this season. Despite still having four years remaining on his contract at St. Mary’s following his move from Manchester City last summer, Southampton’s relegation has paved the way for an inevitable departure. Chelsea now stands as the likely destination for the immensely talented midfielder.
