Liverpool 'admirers' of Lavia - Chelsea had £50m bid rejected

Liverpool are plotting a move to sign Southampton star Romeo Lavia this summer, according to reports.

Lavia, 19, signed for the Saints last summer from Manchester City. At the time, he was yet to make his Premier League debut before moving to St Mary's Stadium.

The Belgian was one of a number of young, inexperienced players signed by Southampton as part of an ambitious transfer policy. However, that policy did not yield success this season, as the Saints suffered relegation to the Championship with three matches to spare.

Lavia, however, has been a bright spark in an otherwise disappointing season for the club, who have been managed by Ralph Hasenhuttl, Nathan Jones and Ruben Selles throughout the campaign.

The Saints announced on Wednesday that Selles will leave the club upon the expiry of his contract at the end of the season, with BBC Sport reporting that they are set to appoint Swansea boss Russell Martin as his replacement.

But while Martin has a proven track record of providing attractive football in the second division, that may not be enough to keep some of Southampton's star players at the club.

Lavia has been linked with a move which would keep him in the Premier League - and Liverpool have reportedly joined the race.

According to Goal, the Belgian midfielder is on Liverpool's radar ahead of the summer transfer window, with numerous figures at Anfield believing he is a player for the present and for the future.

Lavia could impress manager Jurgen Klopp in person this weekend, with the Saints hosting Liverpool at St Mary's Stadium in the final game of the Premier League season.

But they will face competition from the likes of Chelsea and Manchester City. Goal also claim that the Blues offered a 'crazy' fee of £50 million to sign Lavia last summer, just weeks after his move to Southampton. It was an approach that was publicly questioned by Hasenhuttl.

Meanwhile, City have a buy-back option on a player they sold for an initial fee of £10.5 million last summer.

The figure is believed to stand at £40 million, as per the Daily Mail - but this can only be triggered in 2024. Pep Guardiola's side also have a 20 per cent sell-on clause if Lavia moves to another club.