Ten Hag eyes Man United swoop for “underrated” £50m “leader”, he could make Mount thrive
Mason Mount has already been officially announced as Manchester United’s first midfield signing of the summer, and there is a new development in their pursuit of a second target to potentially partner with Mount in the midfield for the upcoming season.
According to the Daily Mail, Romeo Lavia, a midfielder from Southampton, remains a target for Manchester United. The club is reportedly waiting for confirmation of player departures before making a move, but they are prepared to compete with Premier League rivals Liverpool, Arsenal, and Chelsea for Lavia’s services.
Southampton believes they can demand a transfer fee of £50 million from interested parties before the next season, while Manchester City reportedly has a buy-back clause of £40 million on Lavia. This fee could pose a challenge for Erik ten Hag and Manchester United.
Manchester United is taking a more cautious approach in this summer’s transfer window compared to previous years. They are eager to offload players who are not meeting expectations to boost their transfer funds and reduce wage costs. If the club manages to sell some midfielders at a profit, it would create an opportunity for Ten Hag to sign Lavia this summer. Players like Donny van de Beek, Fred, Hannibal Mejbri, and Scott McTominay are among those rumored to be available for sale.
Lavia, a graduate of Manchester City’s academy, has gained attention for his impressive performances in central midfield. He could be instrumental in Mount’s success at Old Trafford, forming a partnership with Casemiro in a deeper role. It is worth noting that despite Southampton’s relegation from the Premier League, Lavia’s performances have stood out.
According to FBref, the talented Belgian midfielder ranks in the top 30% of his positional peers in interceptions, tackles, blocks, successful take-ons, and pass completion across the top five European leagues in the past year.
Lavia possesses the qualities to create scoring opportunities, deliver incisive passes, and contribute to shot-creation, which would be highly valuable for Manchester United and for Mount, who will be eager to make an impact in the upcoming season. His ability to win the ball from opponents and his accuracy in passing make him an ideal player.
Jacek Kulig, a football talent scout, has praised Lavia on Twitter, emphasizing his passing abilities and describing him as a top talent. Kulig also mentioned that other clubs are interested in signing him this summer.
Considering all this, Lavia is undoubtedly someone Manchester United should closely monitor as they rebuild their team for the future. He could be part of the talented pool that leads the team to dominance and numerous titles in the years to come.
With Lavia and Mount in midfield, it is hoped that Manchester United can mount a strong defense of their title from the center of the field next season.