Saints confident of £50m fee for teenage midfielder Lavia

 

Southampton are confident the scale of top Premier League interest in Romeo Lavia will ensure they receive close to their £50m valuation of the teenager, but there is hesitancy from suitors over the fee.

Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool have all engaged the midfielder's representatives over a potential transfer this summer.

It is understood that the latter two are unwilling to bid that high given their expenditure already, as well as the fact priorities have been elsewhere.

Getting the Declan Rice deal over the line has been Mikel Arteta's core focus in the centre of the park with Arsenal having to blitz their previous transfer record of £72m to land West Ham United's captain for £105m.

They have already signed Kai Havertz with Jurrien Timber set to follow. Attention is now expected to switch to Lavia in the knowledge that there is stiff competition for his signature, but Arsenal are conscious of their spending and have alternative targets.