Man Utd join Arsenal and Chelsea in Romeo Lavia transfer battle just eight-months after Southampton star left City
MANCHESTER UNITED have joined Arsenal and Chelsea in the race to sign Romeo Lavia, reports suggest.
Lavia, 19, has enjoyed a breakout season with Southampton.
GettySouthampton starlet Romeo Lavia is on Manchester United’s radar[/caption]
In fact, no player in the Premier League won more free-kicks than Lavia in February.
And now the midfielder, who only joined from Manchester City last summer, is in line for a move up the table.
According to the Daily Mail, Man Utd are the latest club to keep tabs on Lavia.
The Belgian is already in the sights of London rivals Chelsea and Arsenal, with the Blues previously enquiring about his services.
However, in United’s case, he does not represent their first-choice option.
Instead, Erik ten Hag wants to pursue a deal for Frenkie de Jong or Jude Bellingham, who both fit his desired tactical system.
There is also a long-standing admiration for Declan Rice at Old Trafford, though Arsenal are leading the race to sign the West Ham star.
Southampton have missed Lavia’s presence whenever he has not featured this season, winning just one of nine Premier League games he was absent.
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This has not boded well for the Saints’ survival chances, with their poor form seeing them rooted to the bottom of the table.
They brought Lavia in for just £14million, and while City have a £40m buyback option in the deal, relegation would weaken Southmapton’s stance on a sale.
Man City star Kevin De Bruyne described Lavia as having the potential to be a “top player” after seeing him in training.
He said last year: “He (Lavia) is very good. He’s been training with us since the end of last year. If he continues his development, I think he’ll be a top player.”
