Arsenal’s transfer plans are taking an interesting turn as they pursue West Ham’s Declan Rice while also progressing in talks to sign Southampton’s Romeo Lavia, according to journalist Miguel Delaney from the Independent.
Rice has been identified as a priority target for the Gunners, but they are now actively engaging in negotiations for Lavia, who is expected to depart Southampton following their relegation last season.
Lavia, a Belgian midfielder, joined Southampton from Manchester City last summer and has since attracted interest from top clubs including Chelsea, Arsenal, and Liverpool. Manchester City included a buy-back clause in his contract, which will become active next summer, prompting rival clubs to make their moves ahead of the upcoming season.
Romeo Lavia would be an exciting signing – half the price of Caicedo – plenty of potential to reach his level.
Wonder if we’d keep Partey an extra year if we signed a 19 yr old? Learning the ropes from an elite 6 never a bad idea. Kolo and Campbell had veterans to help. pic.twitter.com/WA1Ka05rDu
— LE GROVE (@LeGrove) June 16, 2023
As the Gunners focus on finalizing a deal for Rice, their interest in Brighton’s Moises Caicedo has waned. It is believed that Caicedo is now set to join Chelsea, with manager Mauricio Pochettino looking for the perfect midfield partner for Enzo Fernandez.
Although Arsenal had their initial bid for Rice rejected, they are preparing an improved offer worth around £100 million. The Gunners are also keen on securing Lavia’s services alongside Rice to bolster their midfield for the upcoming season.
Romeo Lavia to Arsenal.
Thoughts? pic.twitter.com/rfdVZe7gDn
— H (@ClockEndH) June 16, 2023
Mikel Arteta, Arsenal’s manager, has emphasized the need to enhance his team’s physicality after feeling outmatched during last season’s run-in. While Arsenal’s discussions with Lavia are not as advanced, they are considered the most likely destination for the 19-year-old talent.
Southampton could demand a fee in the range of £40 million for Lavia, anticipating significant interest from multiple clubs.
Additionally, Arsenal is expected to sign several midfielders this summer, as they face potential departures of Albert Sambi Lokonga and Thomas Partey, with Granit Xhaka’s move to Bayer Leverkusen likely to be finalized once a suitable replacement is secured.
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Surely Caicedo is not worth £100 mill in this buyers market.
This summer window is building up to be one of the biggest dumping ground of players, from deadwood to wannabe to top talents like Ilkay Gundogan.
But Arsenal must be shrewd in the market, a well known pundit warns that not all Brighton players move on to other premier league teams and do well.
Bissouma comes to mind, after joining the Spuds he could just barely make the bench in an underperforming team.
Latvia is a much younger player to Caicedo with a massive ceiling, he Marshall that game Southampton played against us at that tender age, had pointed this very fact to a fan Evgunner.
Now am not saying he’s a better player than Caicedo, but time will tell, he is an option worth looking at, Pep Guardiola don’t release young players with such interesting buy back clause.
Worth it or not,100M is what Brighton are asking for.they must be using Rice as a comparison.
Siamois: Am not sure how Brighton does this sort of stuff but they always getaway with it.
Now from my understanding, they are specifically targeting Chelsea and won’t lose a minute sleep if we are not intrested.
Here is where it all gets interesting, that price will be lowered for the blues if they can get their hands on a young Englishman Levi Colwill, the problem is Pochettino is a big fan of the kid.
This kid in question though below the radar now has a massive ceiling.
Now back to Rice, the young Englishman is an established England international, he carries with him PR/Political pressure and that speaks volumes in the capital.
They sold a world cup winner in Alexis MacAllister to Liverpool for peanuts; and now they want a fortune for Caicedo. They should prepare storage space for him because he will be unsold stock at the end of the transfer window!
CM: McAllister cost was a shock, but I didn’t like him for Arsenal.
But I hope you are right and Caicedo gather dust at Brighton, but they are so good at selling their players, they usually gets what they want
Gunsmoke, Bissouma may come bsck to his best under Postecoglou at Spurs.
I agree with you that Lavia is a talent worth Arsenal investing in for the price.
Ozziegunner: I hope he dosen’t
While Lavia is a very talented young player he is not defensively secure and is more suited to a box to box role imo.We could not rely on him as our dedicated DM as he does not have the physique nor the aerial power which is needed to assist our centre backs.Not as good as Caicedo but that should be reflected in his transfer fee.He is one of the best midfielders in the EPL in terms of committing opposition on the half turn.
He seems like a better fit for the DM role than either rice or caicedo, but i think his play is a bit overcomplicated. If he can learn to simplify his work with the ball (Partey and jorginho are great examples), then he could be a great signing imo.
I like Lavia but he doesn’t fit tactically with Rice imo. Caicedo is literally perfect to play the inverted Rb/Dm role. I reckon that we will make a run at Caicedo once Chelsea establish the fee with Brighton. No point making a bidding war for an already overpriced player. Caicedo’s agility makes him unique imo.
This is such great news. Romeo Lavia is such a great talent, I don’t know why he never got the attention and interest from our scouts. He’s worked under great coaches and has shown his incredible skill and versatility in the premier league, right in front of our eyes. Great news indeed👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
swap him with Lokonga, Belgian for Belgian, add Saints a few quid if they want more. Everyone goes home happy.
We seem set to spend agreat deal of money this summer. I dont suppose many of us will think about Kroenke in this at all.
I DO think of him though only in this conext; IF he spends as much this summer as many think he well may do, then the well will certainly dry up soon after this summer is over. Only NON realists can expect him to go on spending , window after window, in the manner he has done of late.
Many seem to be fooled into thinking that HE has become a proper fan, rather than a shrewd money maker protecting the future value of his investment Well, I know better!
It IS likely though that Josh NOW has some real element of emotional attachment to our club, however, which would explain Stan’s loosening of the purse strings.
But only NON realists will expect this purse loosening to continue window, after window, after window. IT WONT!
Our real problem, is our scouting system. We can’t be mad at Brighton or any other team who knows how to spot hidden gems on the cheap, develop them then sell them on for top money…Jus sayin
An early example of Edu now shopping at Walworths.
Sounds like he is a good young player…
Like Taveres, Lokonga, Viera, Kiwior,……….
I was going to include Jorginho, but he unfortunately is old, some might say, too old.