Russell Martin Admits Southampton ‘Can’t Avoid’ Losing Star Player Romeo Lavia
Southampton manager Russell Martin has admitted that the club ‘can’t avoid’ losing star player Romeo Lavia, who is being targeted by Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool. The 19-year-old defensive midfielder has been the subject of much transfer interest since Southampton’s relegation from the Premier League last summer.
Lavia only joined the Saints from Manchester City last July but less than two months later they rejected a big money bid from Chelsea for the Belgian international. The links with Stamford Bridge have continued, especially with the Blues’ midfield looking a lot weaker after the departures of N’Golo Kante and Mateo Kovacic with Mason Mount set to follow.
But Lavia is also wanted by Arsenal and Liverpool, who are looking to further strengthen in the centre of the pitch following Declan Rice and Kai Havertz’s move to the Emirates and Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister’s arrival at Anfield. It has been reported that the 19-year-old, who Manchester United are also keeping tabs on, could be available for £50million as Southampton look to make a big profit on the player they signed for £14m a year ago.
Martin appears to have all but confirmed that Lavia will be leaving St. Mary’s this summer, telling BBC Radio Solent: ‘I think there will be some players who we can’t avoid who will be back in the Premier League. That’s the nature of the game and some of them will be far too attractive to Premier League teams and will want to go and play in the Premier League. You have to respect that.’
The Saints manager also said he will try his best to keep players who were unsure about their future at the club, adding: ‘It’s difficult playing in struggling teams, I’ve been in struggling teams in the Premier League and you can never give the best of yourself. There will be some players here who didn’t have a great season last season who will hopefully be infused by the work we’re doing and I’m pretty sure there will be a lot of players who’ll look very different in the Championship by the way we’re going to do things, hopefully.’
Southampton, with or without Lavia, will kick-off the new Championship season on 4th August away to Sheffield Wednesday. With Liverpool moving quickly to buy Lavia after signing Dominik Szoboszlai, it looks increasingly likely that he will be leaving St. Mary’s this summer.
It remains to be seen if Arsenal, Chelsea or Manchester United will make a move for Lavia before the transfer window closes. However, with Southampton looking to make a big profit on the player they signed for £14m a year ago, it seems inevitable that he will be joining one of these Premier League giants in the near future.