Arsenal are readying a move for Southampton starlet Romeo Lavia once they have completed the signing of West Ham United captain Declan Rice, according to recent reports.
football.london reported back in January that Rice was the Gunners' priority target for central midfield, with Mikel Arteta a huge admirer of the player. Since then, the north Londoners have seen two bids for the England international rebuffed by the Hammers before the two clubs agreed on a £105 million fee in principle last week.
The structure of the payments still need to be ironed out before the move goes through, with West Ham understood to want a decent amount of the initial £100m up front, and this is the final sticking point. Even if a deal for Rice is finalised, Arteta's side are said to still be keen to bolster their options in the centre of the park.
The Times have claimed that Arsenal want to bid for Southampton's Lavia, although they will face stiff competition from the likes of Chelsea and Manchester United, with the Saints valuing the Belgian international at around £50 million.
Lavia established himself as one of the brightest young prospects in the Premier League last season, showing a rare blend of tactical intelligence, crisp passing and an ability to read the game. Manchester City, who sold him to Southampton last year, have a buyback clause which activates next next summer.
READ MORE: Arsenal news and transfers LIVE: Declan Rice deal 'done', Romeo Lavia move, Granit Xhaka deal
One City star who has been vocal in his praise for the 19-year-old is compatriot Kevin De Bruyne. Speaking to Play Sports last year, De Bruyne said: "He [Lavia] is very good.
"He's been training with us since the end of last year. If he continues his development, I think he'll be a top player."
