Southampton are confident the scale of top Premier League interest in Romeo Lavia will ensure they receive close to their £50m valuation of the teenager, but there is hesitancy from suitors over the fee.
Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool have all engaged the midfielder’s representatives over a potential transfer this summer.
It is understood that the latter two are unwilling to bid that high given their expenditure already, as well as the fact priorities have been elsewhere.
Getting the Declan Rice deal over the line has been Mikel Arteta’s core focus in the centre of the park with Arsenal having to blitz their previous transfer record of £72m to land West Ham United’s captain for £105m.
- Arsenal transfer news and rumours
- Liverpool transfer rumours and gossip
- Transfer Centre LIVE! | Paper Talk
- Get Sky Sports | Download the Sky Sports app
Image: Romeo Lavia made 34 appearances for Saints last term, and was a standout performer in midfield
They have already signed Kai Havertz with Jurrien Timber set to follow. Attention is now expected to switch to Lavia in the knowledge that there is stiff competition for his signature, but Arsenal are conscious of their spending and have alternative targets.
Trending
- Transfer Centre LIVE! Kane, Rice, De Gea latest
- The Ashes: Marsh out for run-a-ball 118; Australia 240-5 at tea LIVE!
- Mbappe warned PSG team-mates will be sold if he leaves for free next summer
- Man Utd locked in talks with Inter for Onana | Goalkeeper wants move
- Leverkusen agree Xhaka deal | Rice, Timber set for medicals
- Wimbledon LIVE! Brits Broady and Boulter in action with Murray playing later
- Saints confident of £50m fee for teenage midfielder Lavia
- Arsenal transfers: Gunners announce ‘long-term contract’ for Nelson
- Premier League transfers: Club by club
- Man Utd transfers: ‘Maguire’s salary rise making sale more challenging’
- Video
- Latest News
Liverpool, who are undergoing a midfield rebuild which has included the additions of Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister, view Lavia as a long-term anchor.
- Szoboszlai: Liverpool’s new set-piece specialist
However, there would need to be a significant dent in Southampton’s asking price for the Belgium international, who would also need to make clear Anfield is his destination of choice.
Also See:
Liverpool’s approach this summer has been to extract value for the right profile despite an inflated market and pursue ‘clean’ deals that do not involve bidding wars or become drawn out.
The club’s stance is there would need to be outgoings in midfield first – Thiago is attracting widespread interest – before they sign another player for that department.
Liverpool’s ideal is for a third fresh recruit there and if circumstances align a signing could happen regardless of exits.
Chelsea, meanwhile, are working on an agreement with Brighton for Moises Caicedo. They are still concentrating on trimming a bloated squad but have not concealed their interest in Lavia.
- How Caicedo went from tearful teenager to in-demand star
Image: The teenager scored the opening goal in Southampton's 2-1 win over Chelsea last August
Southampton are resigned to losing the 19-year-old in this window, but it won’t be on the cheap.
They believe Lavia has the potential to develop into one of the best defensive midfielders in the game, which they feel is evidenced by the clubs looking at him.
Manchester City, meanwhile, will bank 20 per cent of the selling fee as part of the transfer they negotiated with Southampton a year ago.
They also have the opportunity to match any bids for Lavia and have a buy-back clause which is understood to only become active in 2024.
Follow the summer transfer window with Sky Sports
Who will be on the move this summer when the transfer window opens on June 14 and closes at 11pm on September 1 in England and midnight in Scotland?
Keep up to date with all the latest transfer news and rumours in our dedicated Transfer Centre blog on Sky Sports’ digital platforms. You can also catch up with the ins, outs and analysis on Sky Sports News.
Win £250,000 with Super 6!
Another Sunday, another chance to win £250,000 with Super 6. Play for free, entries by 4:30pm.
Sourse: skysports.com
