Southampton midfielder Romeo Lavia is the latest player to be linked with a summer transfer to Arsenal.
The Gunners are keen to bolster their midfield options at the end of the current campaign, football.london understands, with West Ham United captain at the top of the wishlist for Mikel Arteta and co. Now, transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has reported that Lavia is also of interest to the north London outfit ahead of the summer window.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano said: "Romeo Lavia is attracting very important interest. "He is a top talent as a midfielder
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"Let me say one thing, the buy-back clause for Manchester City is in the contract starting from summer 2024, not now, this is why Man City do not have full control over Lavia this upcoming summer. Other clubs are interested, Arsenal are keeping an eye on the player, Arsenal are following Romeo Lavia, at the moment it’s nothing advanced."
Lavia decided to leave the Citizens for Southampton last summer in search of more regular game time. One City player that he impressed during his time at the Etihad Stadium was none other than fellow Belgian international Kevin De Bruyne.
Speaking about Lavia to Play Sports last year, De Bruyne said: "He 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."
That is high praise indeed for the teenager but De Bruyne isn't the only legendary midfielder who is a fan of his game. In fact, Manchester United icon Paul Scholes has also singled the youngster out for praise during the course of the season.
When asked about Lavia, Scholes told BT Sport: "I was surprised when City let him go I think he is good enough potentially, he is only 18-years-old maybe hold him back a bit. He has chosen to move on and I think he is a player with so much potential and he could potentially go back, but he has settled in so well.
"He has got a pass in his locker and he is big and strong and likes to defend. He does not want to get forward too much and sits in-front of the back four and sets the play in motion from there."
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