---
title: "Arsenal: Gunners showing Romeo Lavia interest"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/romeo-lavia-transfer-news-man-utd-chelsea/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Adam Clancy"
section: "Arsenal News"
published: "2023-03-03T11:45:07Z"
modified: "2023-03-03T11:45:07Z"
---

# Arsenal: Gunners showing Romeo Lavia interest

**[Arsenal](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/arsenal-fc-news/) are reportedly showing an interest in signing Southampton midfielder Romeo Lavia in the summer.**

### The Lowdown: Midfielder wanted

Arsenal are targeting a new midfielder this summer, having been linked with the likes of West Ham United’s [Declan Rice](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/arsenal-fc-news/gunners-declan-rice-transfer-news-rumours-latest/) and Brighton and Hove Albion’s [Moises Caicedo](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/arsenal-fc-news/arsenal-gunners-moises-caicedo-transfer-rumours-news/), having failed in a January move for the latter.

They ended up signing Jorginho from Chelsea as midfield cover instead, but may look at signing one more given Mohamed Elneny’s long-term injury and Albert Sambi Lokonga’s uncertain future, having been allowed to go to Crystal Palace on loan.

### The Latest: Lavia interest

As per [The Daily Mail](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-11811799/Manchester-United-clubs-keeping-tabs-Southamptons-Romeo-Lavia.html), Arsenal are in the race to sign Lavia this summer, along with fellow [Premier League](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/premier-league-news/) rivals Manchester United and Chelsea.

Manchester City also have a buy-back clause of £40m after selling him to Southampton last summer, and he is a player that their own midfield superstar Kevin De Bruyne rates very highly.

Rice remains Arsenal’s top midfield target, but they could apparently bring in two new midfielders this summer.

### The Verdict: Get it done

At just 19 years of age, Lavia is a player with so much potential, and would be a long-term replacement for the likes of Jorginho and Thomas Partey in the Gunners’ midfield, with Rice possibly the more immediate upgrade to the starting XI.

Hailed as a ‘[special talent](https://twitter.com/J_Tanswell/status/1605329451411451904?s=20&t=qaWYy8-4Ek0LaLpLFSORBQ)‘ by former Saints manager Nathan Jones, no Southampton player to have played at least five games in the Premier League has averaged a higher pass success rate than Lavia (87%), while he also ranks highly in the number of other key metrics ([WhoScored](https://www.whoscored.com/Teams/18/Show/England-Southampton)).

The Belgian has been a shining light in what has otherwise proved to be a difficult season for the Saints, and could fit in well among a talented group of youngsters in North London.