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.
'This deal should advance in next 24 to 48
hours'
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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