---
title: "Manchester City eyeing Romeo Lavia transfer"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/romeo-lavia-transfer-news-rumours-updates/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Dominic Lund"
section: "Follow up"
published: "2023-03-13T19:35:02Z"
modified: "2023-03-13T19:35:02Z"
---

# Manchester City eyeing Romeo Lavia transfer

**[Manchester City](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/manchester-city-news/) are ‘keeping an eye on’ Romeo Lavia for a potential summer transfer swoop and have a buy-back clause over the likes of Manchester United, according to journalist Pete O’Rourke.**

### The Lowdown: Lavia impressing

[Pep Guardiola](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/tag/pep-guardiola/) [allowed](https://www.southamptonfc.com/news/2022-07-06/announcement-romeo-lavia-signing-southampton-football-club-6-july-2022) Lavia to leave in the previous summer transfer window, with the central midfielder joining Southampton on a five-year contract, and he has since gone on to establish himself as an important player on the South Coast.

The 19-year-old has [started](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/romeo-lavia/leistungsdaten/spieler/628451) in each of the Saints’ last nine games, having forced his way back into the team since recovering from a hamstring injury, and he could now be set for a swift return to Man City, perhaps replacing either [Rodri](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/manchester-city-news/man-city-rodri-transfer-news-rumours-updates/) or [Ilkay Gundogan](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/manchester-city-news/ilkay-gundogan-news-rumours-transfer-updates/), who have both been linked with exits.

### The Latest: O’Rourke’s update

Speaking to [GiveMeSport](https://www.givemesport.com/romeo-lavia/transfer-news-manchester-city-southampton-pep-guardiola-premier-league/) about the youngster’s future, O’Rourke said: *“I* *believe they do have a buy-back option in his contract from when they sold him to Southampton, so that would give them first refusal on any potential deal for Romeo Lavia.*

*“It’s one they’ll be keeping an eye on, he has been with a number of top clubs, the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea, and Manchester United have all been linked to him as well. And if Southampton do go down, I think they’ll face a real fight to keep hold of him.”*

\[freshpress-quiz id=”410621″\]

### The Verdict: Get it d0ne?

[Lauded](https://twitter.com/J_Tanswell/status/1605329451411451904?s=20) as a ‘special talent’ by former Southampton boss Nathan Jones, the starlet has already proven he has what it takes to perform at [Premier League](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/premier-league-news/) level, and so City should undoubtedly look to use their buy-back clause.

The Belgian particularly specialises in the defensive side of the game, ranking in the [96th](https://fbref.com/en/players/ecad9aa5/Romeo-Lavia) percentile for blocks per 90 over the past year compared to his positional peers, indicating he could be a viable long-term replacement for Rodri, if the Spaniard leaves the club.

With an average Sofascore rating of [6.84](https://www.sofascore.com/team/football/southampton/45), the maestro is ranked as the second-best performing Southampton midfielder in the Premier League, behind only captain James Ward-Prowse, which is a stellar effort considering he is only 19-years-old.

Guardiola was wise to let Lavia leave in order to gain first-team experience, but the time is right to bring him back to the Etihad Stadium.