Romeo Lavia is being chased by Liverpool and Chelsea; Reds struck a deal thought to be worth £60m but Blues were close to an agreement with Southampton at end of last week; Lavia wants to join Chelsea with the Blues already beating Liverpool to signing of Moises Caicedo from Brighton
By Lyall Thomas
Romeo Lavia’s preference is to join Chelsea despite Liverpool agreeing a £60m deal for the Southampton midfielder.
No agreement has been made between Southampton and Chelsea for the midfielder yet – but one is thought to be close.
Sources have told Sky Sports News that the total package agreed between Liverpool and Southampton on Sunday night is worth £60m.
Liverpool have already missed out on Moises Caicedo to Chelsea. The Blues have agreed a deal with Brighton worth a British record £115m for Caicedo. That follows Liverpool having a £111m offer accepted only for the 21-year-old to inform them he intended to join Chelsea.
Southampton had been holding firm on their £50m valuation of 19-year-old Lavia. Chelsea had made an offer of £48m last week, while Liverpool had seen three previous offers turned down this summer.
Chelsea want to bring in two midfielders in this window and talks between them and Leeds United over the signing of Tyler Adams broke down last week after the parties were unable to reach an agreement.
Here’s a look at why some of the Premier League’s elite are targeting a move for Southampton midfielder Romeo Lavia
Lavia has four years left on his Southampton contract after joining from Manchester City last summer but is expected to leave after Saints were relegated from the Premier League last season.
The Belgium international did not come off the bench during Southampton’s win over Sheffield Wednesday on the opening night of the season, while he was not named in the squad for the Carabao Cup defeat at Gillingham on Tuesday or the 4-4 draw with Norwich on Saturday.
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