Arsenal, Chelsea & Liverpool given boost in pursuit of Southampton’s Romeo Lavia

Russell Martin has admitted that Southampton ‘can’t avoid’ losing their star players like Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool target Romeo Lavia.

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Lavia has been the subject of much transfer interest since way before Southampton’s relegation from the Premier League.

He only joined the Saints from Manchester City last July but less than two months later they rejected a big money bid from Chelsea for the defensive midfielder.

The links with Stamford Bridge have continued, especially with the Blues’ midfield looking a lot weaker after the departures of N’Golo Kante and Mateo Kovacic with Mason Mount set to follow.

But Lavia is also wanted by Arsenal and Liverpool, who are looking to further strengthen in the centre of the pitch following Declan Rice and Kai Havertz’s move to the Emirates and Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister’s arrival at Anfield.

It has been reported that the 19-year-old, who Manchester United are also keeping tabs on, could be available for £50million as Southampton look to make a big profit on the player they signed for £14m a year ago.

And with the club yet to make or linked with making a big money sale it seems inevitable that the Belgian international will be leaving St. Mary’s this summer.

Martin, who has joined the Saints from Swansea, appears to have all but confirmed that, telling BBC Radio Solent: ‘I hope I can convince some people to stay who were happy 50-50 about it. I think there will be some players who we can’t avoid who will be back in the Premier League.

‘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.

‘I will try my very best with the work that we do and the way we treat and interact with the players, we’ll try our very best to keep some players who maybe weren’t sure – or maybe some people weren’t sure on.

‘It’s difficult playing in struggling teams, I’ve been in struggling teams in the Premier League and you can never give the best of yourself.

‘There will be some players here who didn’t have a great season last season who will hopefully be infused by the work we’re doing and I’m pretty sure there will be a lot of players who’ll look very different in the Championship by the way we’re going to do things, hopefully.’

Southampton, with or without Lavia, will kick-off the new Championship season on 4th August away to Sheffield Wednesday.

MORE : Dominik Szoboszlai’s former coach backs him for instant Liverpool impact

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