According to reports, Chelsea have attempted to ‘hijack’ Liverpool’s deal for Southampton star Romeo Lavia but he still wants a move to Anfield.
Liverpool have been focused on overhauling their midfield this summer. They have already spent around £95m to sign Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai from Brighton and RB Leipzig.
They are now being forced into the market for more reinforcements as they need to replace Jordan Henderson and Fabinho, who are heading to the Saudi Pro League for over £50m combined.
The Premier League giants have been linked with Crystal Palace’s Cheick Doucoure and Fulham’s Joao Palhinha but Lavia is understood to be their preferred target.
Lavia left Man City to join Southampton last summer. He suffered relegation with the Saints in 2022/23 but he was one of their standout performers.
Southampton have set their asking price at £50m for Lavia. Liverpool have already failed with a £37m bid and The Athletic’s David Ornstein confirmed earlier this week that they intend to go back in with an improved offer.
Chelsea and Arsenal have also been linked with Lavia in recent weeks and Football Insider are now reporting that the Blues are ‘plotting a full-scale hijack of Liverpool’s pursuit of Lavia’. They add.
‘The Blues have set their sights on a move for the 19-year-old as talks over a deal for Brighton’s Moises Caicedo, 21, have hit a stumbling block.
‘It has been widely reported that Chelsea have seen a third bid, which is believed to be worth around £80million, rejected by the Seagulls.
‘The Londoners could now abandon their move for the Ecuador international to prioritise a deal for Lavia. A well-placed source has told Football Insider that Chelsea can bid closer to Southampton’s £50million asking price than Liverpool have.’
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But if Belgian journalist Sacha Tavolieri is to be believed, Liverpool do not have anything to worry about.
He has reported (via Twitter) that Chelsea’s ‘last-minute pressing’ for Lavia will be even more intensive in the coming hours’.
But Lavia is ‘still leaning towards’ a move to Liverpool above all other sides. Tavolieri adds.
“The plan presented by #LFC convinced the Belgian midfielder & his entourage.
“European football also a key. Human aspects and the sports project are fundamentals with Lavia’s family who are very conscious & reasonable people.
“A reversal of fortunes seems unlikely but this situation could well enable the #SaintsFC to obtain the £50m package they are looking for.”
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