Chelsea ‘exploring’ move for £50m Premier League star with ‘big potential’

Chelsea are “still exploring” a move for Southampton’s Roméo Lavia as Graham Potter looks to “completely overhaul” his midfield at Stamford Bridge, according to journalist Dean Jones.

The 18-year-old only joined the Saints from Manchester City during the summer transfer window.

Chelsea transfer news – Roméo Lavia

According to Belgian journalist Sacha Tavolieri, Chelsea are set to reignite their initial summer interest in Lavia, with the youngster being seen as a potential successor to N’Golo Kanté.

In September, the Southern Daily Echo reported that the Blues had a bid worth £50m turned down for the midfielder at the end of the summer transfer market, despite the Belgian only signing for the St. Mary’s club earlier in the window.

However, Fabrizio Romano told GiveMeSport last month that the youngster’s former club were still in control of the midfielder’s future, with the Citizens holding a £40m buy-back release clause in the deal to sell the starlet to the south coast club.

But Jones suggests that Chelsea are still looking at a deal for the player, with Lavia having “big potential in the game.”

What has Jones said about Chelsea and Lavia?

Jones told GiveMeSport: “This is a player with big potential in the game. That is one thing that Chelsea are really big on.

“Lavia is certainly somebody that they’re still exploring and that’s a position on the pitch that they’re looking to completely overhaul.”

Would Lavia be a good signing for Chelsea?

Despite having only made seven Premier League appearances throughout his career, Lavia has convinced Todd Boehly and the Chelsea hierarchy that he is worth at least £50m already, with the youngster putting in some impressive performances at Southampton.

His only senior goal came against the Blues in a 2-1 victory for the Saints at the end of August, before a hamstring injury suffered in that fixture kept him out of top-flight action until November.

A solid average Sofascore rating of 6.86 for his performances in the Premier League demonstrates a figure of consistency in the middle of the park for the Saints, which is something that will have encouraged the onlooking Potter as he looks to rejig his midfield in the upcoming transfer windows.

The former City starlet is also excellent in a defensive capacity, ranking in the top 1% of midfielders across Europe’s big five leagues as well as the Champions League and Europa League for blocks per 90 minutes (2.59) and top 5% for interceptions per 90 (1.94) over the last 365 days, according to FBref.

Whilst Lavia has made less than double figures in terms of senior appearances for Southampton, it seems that his early career performances have encouraged Chelsea that he is the right long-term option for their midfield, and an interesting transfer saga awaits in the new year.

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