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Arsenal 'leading Chelsea, Liverpool in Romeo Lavia race'

Arsenal 'leading Chelsea, Liverpool in Romeo Lavia race'
© Reuters
Arsenal are reportedly ahead of Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool in the race to sign Southampton midfielder Romeo Lavia this summer.

Arsenal are the favourites to sign Southampton starlet Romeo Lavia ahead of Liverpool and Chelsea, according to a report.

The 19-year-old was a shining light in a troubled season for the Saints during the 2022-23 campaign, but he was unable to prevent the South-coast outfit's relegation from the Premier League.

Upon his arrival from Manchester City, Lavia immediately established a regular starting role alongside James Ward-Prowse and ended the year with one goal and one assist from 35 games in all tournaments.

Despite Southampton's bottom-placed finish in the top flight, Lavia earned plenty of plaudits for his performances in the middle of the park, and he is widely expected to seek pastures new again this summer.

The Belgium international is contracted to Southampton for another four years, but the Saints are fighting an uphill battle to keep hold of him following their demotion to the Championship.

Southampton midfielder Romeo Lavia pictured in August 2022© Reuters

Liverpool and Chelsea are both said to have taken a liking to Lavia, while Manchester United have also been keeping a watchful eye on his development throughout the season.

However, The Guardian claims that there is a "growing belief" that the 2004-born lynchpin will be an Arsenal player next season as the Gunners aim to bolster their midfield in the summer window.

The report adds that Southampton value Lavia at £45m, but Arsenal - who could shell out a nine-figure sum on West Ham United's Declan Rice - will try to drive the price down.

Man City are understood to have inserted a £40m buyback clause into Lavia's deal when he signed for Southampton, but the treble winners cannot activate it until the summer of 2024.

While the Premier League champions are also seeking midfield additions this summer, they are not expected to wait for the buyback clause to kick in and will likely pursue other targets in the meantime.

Manchester City's Romeo Lavia in action with Wycombe Wanderers' Brandon Hanlan on September 21, 2021© Reuters

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta will supposedly be given as much as £200m to improve the squad after their unexpected Premier League title challenge, but more than half of their warchest could be used to prise Rice away from West Ham.

The Gunners have reportedly failed with an opening bid of £80m plus £10m in add-ons for the England international, as West Ham are adamant that he will not be sold for anything less than £100m.

Arsenal will likely make an improved bid for Rice, who has apparently identified the Emirates as his preferred destination for a summer move, so personal terms will not be an issue.

Granit Xhaka and Thomas Partey formed an effective partnership in the engine room last season, but the former is believed to be on the verge of a £13m move to Bayer Leverkusen, which will go through once the Gunners have signed a replacement.

Partey is also rumoured to be attracting interest from Serie A clubs, while Albert Sambi Lokonga has failed to impress since joining from Anderlecht in 2021 and could also be allowed to leave amid links with Burnley.

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1Liverpool1210112481631
2Manchester CityMan City127232217523
3Chelsea126422314922
4Arsenal126422112922
5Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton126422116522
6Tottenham HotspurSpurs1261527131419
7Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest125431513219
8Aston Villa125431919019
9Fulham125341717018
10Newcastle UnitedNewcastle125341313018
11Brentford125252222017
12Manchester UnitedMan Utd124441313016
13Bournemouth124351617-115
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham124351519-415
15Everton122551017-711
16Leicester CityLeicester122461523-810
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves122372028-89
18Ipswich TownIpswich121651323-109
19Crystal Palace121561017-78
20Southampton121110924-154


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