Chelsea have made a £48m bid for Romeo Lavia, going nearer to Southampton’s £50m valuation and hoping to trump Liverpool.
The previous couple of weeks have seen the Anfield membership make a sequence of incrementally bettering affords, however they’re nonetheless no less than £4m off a deal.
With Mauricio Pochettino looking for to re-energise Chelsea’s midfield, he has lengthy needed to usher in two midfielders, and the hope is that Lavia will be part of Brighton’s Moises Caicedo at Stamford Bridge.
There can be a private connection because the 18-year-old has an excellent relationship with Joe Shields, the recruitment govt who introduced Lavia to Southampton and is now at Chelsea.
Liverpool, who journey to Chelsea of their Premier League opener on Sunday, have been pissed off of their makes an attempt to signal the 19-year-old midfielder and have seen three bids rejected for a participant who has made simply 29 top-flight appearances.
After their preliminary two affords of £34m plus £4m and £42m have been turned down, the Reds returned with a proposal value £46m however that too was rejected by the Championship membership.
Lavia joined Saints from Manchester City final summer time as an 18-year-old for an preliminary £10.5m.
The Belgian made his worldwide debut earlier this 12 months when he was known as up by the Red Devils for the Euro 2024 qualifier in opposition to Sweden and a pleasant in opposition to Germany.
Lavia shone all through final season, regardless of Saints’ relegation, that includes 29 instances and scoring as soon as.
Liverpool have had a 3rd bid turned down for Southampton’s Romeo Lavia
(PA Archive)
Liverpool are available in the market for a midfielder after the gross sales of Jordan Henderson and Fabinho, with Jurgen Klopp underlining the necessity to additional defend his defence.
“That would be not a bad idea,” Klopp said last month when asked about midfield reinforcements. “We know that we have to do something there, it is absolutely clear. We are obviously working on solutions.”
Chelsea have in the meantime made progress in talks to signal Caicedo however Brighton at the moment are holding the London membership to a requirement of £90m primary charge.
The Blues would then have so as to add an additional £10m to be made up in bonuses and anticipated clauses.
The saga has continued with little motion all through the summer time, as Chelsea have confirmed reluctant to transcend £80m.
While Brighton, who hardly ever deviate from their preliminary asking worth, have seen the character of the talks revolve round pushing Chelsea to go nearer to their valuation.
There has now been some breakthrough on the construction of a possible deal although, however the expectation is that the Stamford Bridge hierarchy will finally must go additional and make a £90m-plus supply.
Chelsea are hoping to get it finished earlier than Sunday’s season opener at residence to Liverpool, as Mauricio Pochettino is keen so as to add extra power to his midfield.