Chelsea have been linked with Southampton star Romeo Lavia. (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)
According to Belgian journalist Sacha Tavolieri, via CFCPys (h/t Football.London), Chelsea are set to meet with the agent of Southampton midfielder Romeo Lavia this week ahead of the proposed move in the summer window.
Chelsea wanted to sign Lavia, days after he made a switch from Manchester City to Southampton last summer. They made a £50m offer to sign him on the deadline day, but that did not materialise sensibly so.
The former Anderlecht and City youth player has had a very good first season in the Premier League, even though his team are in the doldrums at the moment.
Keeping that in mind and also knowing that Chelsea’s interest in the player hasn’t stopped since last summer, the Blues are hoping to crack a deal this time around.
The 19-year-old has played 18 league games, either as a defensive midfielder or a central midfielder in a double-pivot. He has shown maturity along with quality in a short period of time as a Southampton player.
Chelsea will be in the market for midfield additions in the summer. They are not keen on signing Denis Zakaria on a permanent basis, while interest in Declan Rice is there despite his preference of moving to Arsenal. Mateo Kovacic is a subject of interest from Manchester City.
The club broke the country’s transfer record to sign Enzo Fernandez while selling Jorginho on the deadline day of the January window. Conor Gallagher and Ruben Loftus-Cheek are listed to leave the club after the end of this season.
So, there are spots available to be filled in the midfield department. Lavia could be one of the shrewd signings, given his recent experience in the Premier League and the quality he has.
Moreover, at 19, he fulfills Chelsea’s criteria of signing top young players on a long contract and developing them here before selling at a profit later.
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