2023-08-10 09:02:00
Roméo Lavia (19) from relegated Southampton FC is likely to become the most expensive U20 midfielder in history this summer. How “The Athletic“ reported that Chelsea made an offer to the “Saints” in the amount of 55.6 million euros including bonuses – previously Southampton rejected an offer from Liverpool FC of around 53 million euros. The most expensive midfielder to date is Renato Sanches (25, PSG), for whom FC Bayern transferred 35 million euros to Benfica Lisbon in 2016.
Market value of Roméo Lavia
Southampton are reportedly demanding the equivalent of 58 million euros for the Belgium international, who it only got in 2022 for 12.3 million euros from Manchester City’s youth team. Even if Lavia is said to be one of Jürgen Klopp’s dream players, according to The Athletic, the Reds believe that this requirement is too high for a talent with the manageable experience of 29 Premier League games.
Most expensive midfield talents in history
Chelsea have not been put off by such numbers since owner Todd Boehly joined in May 2022 and are poised to secure their 11th U21 signing since the summer of 2022 in the person of Lavia. If the Blues win the bid, spending under Boehly’s helm would soar to over €870m in three transfer windows.
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The Southampton talent would be the fourth teenager in the midfield of coach Mauricio Pochettino, who oversees by far the youngest team in the Premier League – his most experienced central player at the moment is 23-year-old Conor Gallagher. The Blues and their unbalanced 31-man squad have an exciting three weeks to go before the September 1 transfer window closes, and Pochettino had already warned: “We don’t need a big squad. We need 22, 23, 24 players including some younger ones and that’s it. I’m sorry because maybe there will have to be tough decisions, but we need a good and balanced team.”
Regardless, the betting for top talent Lavia continues and second division side Southampton are taking their time in transfer poker for their most valuable players. While Lavia is likely to receive a transfer fee in excess of 50 million euros, Tino Livramento (20) was sold to Newcastle for 37.2 million euros and Mohammed Salisu (24) to AS Monaco for 15 million euros. Captain James Ward-Prowse (28) is said to be on the verge of a €35m-€40m move to West Ham United.
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