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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Marc Mayo

Arsenal and Liverpool handed Romeo Lavia boost as £45m speculation ramps up

Arsenal and Liverpool have been told that Southampton “can’t avoid” losing players this summer amid reports of their interest in Romeo Lavia.

The Belgian midfielder, 19, is said to be rated at £45million by the recently-relegated Saints with Chelsea also named as a potential destination during the transfer window.

Southampton boss Russell Martin has insisted there is “nothing to say” at this moment in terms of bids for certain players.

Despite Lavia joining James Ward-Prowse and Tino Livramento in being linked with a move away, the new manager is “relaxed” yet he has admitted that there is a strong likelihood some will be sold.

He told Radio Solent: “Some people will leave, some people will still be here.”

“I hope I can convince some people to stay who were 50/50 about it,” he added.

“I think there will be some players who we can't avoid [losing] who will be back in the Premier League.

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"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."

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