Southampton midfielder Lavia undergoing medical at Chelsea today
Chelsea is conducting a medical on Southampton midfielder Romeo Lavia.
Saints have accepted a bid of up to £58 million for the Belgium international, who is 19 years old.
Saints also received a Liverpool offer for Lavia, but he declined to entertain a move to Anfield.
Instead, he consented to relocate to Chelsea pending the outcome of today’s medical.
Lavia joined Southampton from Manchester City a year ago and has made 29 Premier League appearances.
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Southampton midfielder Romeo Lavia is said to have undergone a physical with Chelsea ahead of a £58 million move to Stamford Bridge.
The 19-year-old has been on the radar of numerous prominent European teams in recent months, having been a shining light for the Saints throughout a difficult 2022-23 season.
Lavia just joined Russell Martin’s team from Manchester City a year ago, but since Southampton was relegated from the Premier League, an exit from St Mary’s was considered as inevitable.
Arsenal were considered serious contenders for his signature before bringing in Kai Havertz and Declan Rice, setting up a two-horse fight between Chelsea and Liverpool.
Southampton, who have Lavia under contract until 2027, have always claimed that he will not be allowed to move for less than £50 million, and Liverpool initially failed with multiple bids that were lower than the Saints’ asking price.
However, the Reds did eventually agree on a deal for the Belgium international, only to be told that he wanted a move to Chelsea, who subsequently won the transfer with a £58 million bid.
According to the Daily Mail, Lavia has now passed his medical tests with Chelsea, despite having only returned to England on Wednesday after spending some time in his native Belgium.
The Blues are now hoping to complete Lavia’s transfer later today, as the 2004-born lynchpin prepares to sign a long-term contract in West London, the length of which has yet to be determined.
If Lavia’s signing is registered by Friday midday, the former Manchester City youth product will be eligible to play in Sunday’s London derby against West Ham United.
Lavia will join Chelsea as the club’s ninth summer acquisition, following Nicolas Jackson, Christopher Nkunku, Axel Disasi, Moises Caicedo, Angelo Gabriel, Lesley Ugochukwu, Diego Moreira, and Robert Sanchez.
Mauricio Pochettino’s side pipped Liverpool to the signing of Lavia after also taking Caicedo from under the Reds’ noses, outbidding Liverpool’s £110m bid with a British-record £115m deal.
Liverpool were the first team to agree a deal with Brighton & Hove Albion for Caicedo, as was the case with Lavia, but the Ecuadorian had his heart set on playing for the Blues.
Chelsea are set to stay in the market when Lavia’s signing is completed, having reportedly moved their attention to Nottingham Forest’s Brennan Johnson after Michael Olise suddenly signed.
