Chelsea make £48m bid for Southampton midfielder Lavia

Chelsea have made a £48m bid for Romeo Lavia and talks with Southampton could accelerate in the next 24 hours.

While the offer is expected to be rejected as Southampton hold out for their £50m valuation, it comes close enough that talks between the clubs could continue.

Liverpool have seen three bids for Lavia rejectedso far this summer, the latest of which was worth around £45m

Chelsea want to sign two midfielders before the transfer window closes at the end of the month and are also interested in Brighton's Moises Caicedo and Leeds' Tyler Adams.

Lavia has four years left on his Southampton contract after joining from Manchester City last summer.