Romeo Lavia is being chased by Liverpool and Chelsea; Reds struck a deal thought to be worth £60m but Blues were close to an agreement with Southampton at end of last week; Lavia wants to join Chelsea with the Blues already beating Liverpool to signing of Moises Caicedo from Brighton
Tuesday 15 August 2023 11:05, UK
Romeo Lavia's preference is to join Chelsea despite Liverpool agreeing a £60m deal for the Southampton midfielder.
No agreement has been made between Southampton and Chelsea for the midfielder yet - but one is thought to be close.
Sources have told Sky Sports News that the total package agreed between Liverpool and Southampton on Sunday night is worth £60m.
Liverpool have already missed out on Moises Caicedo to Chelsea after the Brighton midfielder moved to Stamford Bridge for a British record £115m. Liverpool had a £111m offer accepted by Brighton only for the 21-year-old to inform them he only intended to join Chelsea.
Southampton had been holding firm on their £50m valuation of 19-year-old Lavia. Chelsea had made an offer of £48m last week, while Liverpool had seen three previous offers turned down this summer.
Chelsea want to bring in two midfielders in this window and talks between them and Leeds United over the signing of Tyler Adams broke down last week after the parties were unable to reach an agreement.
Lavia has four years left on his Southampton contract after joining from Manchester City last summer but is expected to leave after Saints were relegated from the Premier League last season.
The Belgium international did not come off the bench during Southampton's win over Sheffield Wednesday on the opening night of the season, while he was not named in the squad for the Carabao Cup defeat at Gillingham on Tuesday or the 4-4 draw with Norwich on Saturday.
Sky Sports News' Mark McAdam speaking on The Transfer Show:
"This is another one of the ongoing sagas of the summer.
"This morning, Liverpool had an offer of £60m accepted by Southampton but nothing happened. There was no advance in the medical and Lavia wasn't heading to Merseyside to get on with things. There was a little bit of a malaise. While that was going on, Chelsea were bevering in the background working on their own deal for the midfielder.
"It would suggest that Lavia's preference was to go to Chelsea. But as things stand, there is no offer from Chelsea that Southampton have agreed to.
"Chelsea were interested in Lavia this time last summer after just three Premier League appearances. We are expecting some big movement in the next 24 to 48 hours or so. You get the sense this one is advancing."
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