Romeo Lavia to Chelsea or Man City? The state of play
Romeo Lavia only joined Southampton in the summer transfer window from Manchester City but there have already been rumours of an exit for the youngster.
Lavia has impressed in his short tenure at Southampton so far and is getting the game time in Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side to show his best qualities.
There is reportedly a high asking price set on him, especially if a club other than Manchester City comes in for him, and many are tracking the youngster’s progress at the south coast club.
The midfielder has always been rated to have a high potential in the future and could well see the best of that come out in the summer transfer window.
Interest high in Lavia
Immediately after the close of the transfer window, it was revealed by journalist Fabrizio Romano that Chelsea had made an offer for him soon after he moved to Southampton.
The offer was believed to be well over £50 million – over the buyback clause that Manchester City have on him – and they were interested in the deal despite Southampton’s recent move for the City youngster.
Romano spoke about the player’s future: “I don’t think that anything is going to happen in January and I see Lavia staying at Southampton at least until the end of the season, or maybe one more season,”
Pep on Roméo Lavia:
"There was an opportunity [to keep him for the season] but we got a good offer for him and his development and we have an option in the future just in case. All of them we were impressed when they were here."— City Report (@cityreport_) October 7, 2022
“Manchester City have a buy back clause so the price tag also depends on this; let’s see about the price tag when he’ll be back from the injury, it depends on his performances.”
Lavia’s future will be determined by how he performs in the coming months – he has made a bright start but maintaining that form will now be the challenge for him.
Chelsea have been on the pursuit for some of the game’s best young talents and Lavia fits that category, while Pep Guardiola will certainly be interested in having a midfielder of his quality in his side in the future, with the club able to bring him back for a £40 million fee.