Romeo Lavia snubs Liverpool to secure a move to Chelsea

Liverpool faces the second snub in their pursuit of a defensive midfielder in the ongoing summer transfer window

Liverpool are struggling to catch a break in the ongoing summer transfer window. After Jurgen Klopp promised a squad rebuild, especially in the midfield, after the departure of the likes of Jordan Henderson, and Fabinho, they were able to sign Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai in the early part of the window. However, they are yet to fill the void left by Fabinho in the defensive midfield and tried breaking the club record to sign Moises Caicedo with a £110 million bid. Regrettably, the Ecuadorian talent chose the path to Chelsea, leaving the Reds to shift their focus toward a long-pursued target – Lavia. Despite an agreement being reached with Southampton for the transfer, Romeo Lavia, in a surprising twist, has opted to shun Liverpool’s advances, favouring a move to Chelsea instead.

The report read:

"Southampton midfielder Romeo Lavia has decided to join Chelsea.Relations between the two clubs are good, so no issues are anticipated regarding an agreement.A fee in the region of £50million plus add-ons is expected to seal the 19-year-old’s transfer(Via: The Athletic)"

Romeo Lavia in English Premier League and other competitions

Emerging from Manchester City’s youth ranks, Romeo Lavia’s journey led him to Southampton just a season ago, in a deal amounting to £12 million. His poised presence on the St Mary’s Park turf swiftly captured the admiration of fans. Throughout the English top-flight campaign, Lavia showcased his mettle across 29 appearances, a noteworthy feat in a challenging season for Southampton, even registering a goal.

Yet, it was his defensive prowess that truly turned heads. At a mere 19 years old, Lavia exhibited an exceptional ability to dominate the field, averaging an impressive 1.34 interceptions and 2.43 tackles per game. His passing acumen stood at a commendable 86.2% completion rate.

In the Carabao Cup, Lavia’s contributions extended beyond defense. He etched an assist to his name, contributing to Southampton’s campaign that ultimately saw them exit in the semifinals against Newcastle.

(Stats via fbref)

What does the Romeo Lavia deal mean for Chelsea?

Should the impending deal come to fruition, Chelsea’s expenditure would have surged beyond the £1 billion mark within a mere span of three transfer windows, since the new takeover by the consortium led by Todd Boehly. A significant overhaul, involving the sale of surplus talent, has positioned Chelsea with a midfield that radiates threat. Their lineup boasts an array of options, with a minimum of two proficient players for every position.

With Enzo Fernandez, Moises Caicedo, Conor Gallagher, Lesley Ugochukwu, Carney Chukwuemeka and the addition of Lavia, Mauricio Pochettino will look forward to securing the top four which the Blues missed by a big margin in the last season.

Liverpool in the Premier League 2023/24 season

The Merseysiders started their 2023/24 campaign with a draw against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. Jurgen Klopp’s men started the game on a high tempo, but Chelsea tried to control the situation. In a moment of brilliance, Mohamed Salah and Luis Diaz gave them the lead. Yet, Chelsea swiftly responded, hitting the mark in the first half. The subsequent half showcased a dearth of goals, leaving both teams in a deadlock that ultimately yielded just a solitary point for each.

Liverpool will play AFC Bournemouth in their second game at Anfield on 19th August.

Who should be Liverpool’s main midfield target? Have your say below!