Liverpool and Chelsea are reportedly interested in signing Southampton's Romeo Lavia this summer, with the player expected to leave the club after their relegation to the Championship.
The 19-year-old joined the Saints from Manchester City last July and impressed during his first spell as a Premier League regular, although he could not prevent the South Coast club finishing bottom of the league table.
Having made 29 top-flight appearances for Southampton this term, the youngster did enough to earn a place in Belgium's squad for their March internationals, with the midfielder making his debut for the Red Devils as a substitute against Germany.
Lavia is attracting intense interest from some of England's biggest clubs according to The Sun, with both Liverpool and Chelsea on the verge of making a move for the player.
It is believed that Mauricio Pochettino is a huge admirer of Lavia and sees him as someone who could complement the likes of Enzo Fernandez in the Blues' engine room.
Jurgen Klopp's Reds recently confirmed the signing of playmaker Alexis Mac Allister and are now said to be searching for a deep-lying midfielder - a description that the Saints man fits well.
The report adds that Lavia is currently valued at £50m, meaning if a deal was agreed at that price Southampton would be making close to £40m in profit on the player in the space of a year.
Carter White
