Romeo Lavia could rejoin Man City after journalist’s £40m reveal – pundit
Alan Hutton has suggested Man City will “bide their time” with Romeo Lavia to see if he is worth the £40million buy back clause.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former Tottenham and Aston Villa defender said Lavia isn’t ready for the City team at the moment but could be an option in the future.
According to journalist Fabrizio Romano (3 September), Southampton rejected a £50million verbal proposal from Chelsea for the 18-year-old on deadline day.
The midfielder is said to be “untouchable” due to the £40m buy back clause for City.
On 6 July, Southampton confirmed the signing of the Belgium under-21 international.
Lavia made his debut straight away for the Saints in their 4-1 defeat to Tottenham on the opening day of the season.
He has started every game for Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side since.
As quoted by the Manchester Evening News (11 August), Lavia said he still keeps in touch with City teammate Kevin De Bruyne who told him to show Southampton what he showed him during their time together in training.
When asked if the Sky Blues will be keen to take up the buy back clause soon, Hutton told Football Insider: “They might that’s why they put it in there.
“They obviously see the potential they boy’s got. He obviously wasn’t ready for the City team at this moment in time but they see that he possibly could in the years to come and that’s why they entered that in there.
“They’ll just bide their time and see how he develops and if it’s right for City and the player then he’ll go back.“
In other news, a pundit has backed Pep Guardiola to fast-track two new signings as Man City news confirmed.