Chelsea hope to sell Mateo Kovacic before pressing ahead with a deal to sign Liverpool target Romeo Lavia.
Chelsea do want to beat Liverpool to Romeo Lavia but are trying to offload Manchester City target Mateo Kovacic first.
That is according to Belgian reporter Sacha Tavolieri, who has taken to Twitter to comment on Lavia’s future.
Tavolieri claims that Chelsea are currently the favourites to sign Lavia at the end of the season.
Chelsea’s head of scouting Joe Shields is thought to be pushing for Chelsea to sign Lavia.
That’s no huge shock given that Shields worked with Lavia at Manchester City and then took him to Southampton.
Tavolieri does though add that Chelsea prefer to wait until they have sold Mateo Kovacic before going in for Lavia.
It’s added that Liverpool are in the mix for Lavia and it’s now looking like a two-way battle for the Belgian’s signature.
Liverpool may hope for Manchester City help over Romeo Lavia
Kovacic seems primed to leave Chelsea this summer as new manager Mauricio Pochettino stamps his authority on the squad.
Fabrizio Romano claimed last week that Manchester City have been in talks to land Kovacic this summer.
Pep Guardiola seemingly wants to lure Kovacic to the Etihad Stadium and a deal is in motion.
Yet Liverpool may now hope that City’s move for Kovacic stalls and Chelsea are left unable to move for Lavia.
Liverpool have a number of midfield targets in mind and appear to be close to signing Alexis Mac Allister from Brighton and Hove Albion.
Lavia would be more of a holding player though and could be seen as competition for Fabinho, possibly even his eventual heir.
Hailed as a ‘very special’ player by Jadon Sancho, Lavia has enormous potential and will surely leave Southampton after their relegation to the Championship.
Liverpool will be hoping that Chelsea delay their move, possibly offering a window of opportunity for the Reds to pounce.
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