Chelsea want Romeo Lavia to start a trade war with Liverpool

Where will Romeo Lavia end up before the transfer window closes? Photo: Action Images via Reuters/John Sibley.

Chelsea have jumped into the race for Southampton midfielder Romeo Lavia with a £48m offer and talks between the clubs are ongoing.

Liverpool have made the bulk of the deal by running for the Belgian national team and previously an offer of £45m was rejected this week.

Southampton, who are determined to ensure that their asking prices for players leaving St Mary's this summer are met, did not accept or rejected the offer. They want £50m for the ex-Manchester City midfielder and have now received an offer closer to their valuation.

Chelsea have been looking for a defensive midfielder but have seen no breakthrough in their bid to sign Moises Caicedo from Brighton, who the south coast club is valued at £100m.

Liverpool saw a rejected £45m bid on Monday million pounds to buy Lavia, and has since been considering an increased offer for the highly regarded 19-year-old. years.

Lavia has been the subject of three offers to join Jurgen Klopp's squad ahead of the Premier League season. Their latest terms were better than the £41m offered last week and include additional terms.

Southampton have been pushing for £50m for the player they signed from Manchester City, for just £10.5 million a year. a year ago.

Lavia is expected to return to the Premier League after being relegated to the Championship, but his club is adamant about asking prices for its players, including Lavia and James Ward-Prowse, who are heading to West Ham. in a £30m deal.

Liverpool manager Klopp was looking for a midfielder after Jordan Henderson and Fabinho were promoted to the Saudi Arabian pro league this summer.

Klopp admitted earlier in the summer that there is an urgent need to find a suitable replacement for Fabinho.

“We know we have to do something there,” he said. “It's absolutely clear. We are working on solutions, I think everyone can imagine it.”