Manchester City are set to profit financially this summer if Southampton star Romeo Lavia signs for Arsenal due to a reported clause in his contract.
The Belgian midfielder moved to Southampton last summer and, despite having yet to make his Premier League debut before moving south, quickly became an integral part of the Saints’ side.
The club signed the 19-year-old as part of a revamped recruitment drive that saw them target young, inexperienced players that could be developed into stars at St Mary’s Stadium.
Success was certainly mixed, given the club suffered relegation from the Premier League, but Lavia was a major highlight of the campaign, which saw Southampton employ three different managers over its course.
He made 29 appearances in the league, and impressed onlookers with his passing range, ability to hold off opposition players and his defensive attributes.
At 19, Lavia still has plenty of time to improve – and Arsenal are advancing in talks over a move for the midfielder, according to Fabrizio Romano.
City, it appears, realised this potential despite selling him on, and are set to profit should he leave Southampton this summer.
Man City to profit from Lavia clause
Romano has also confirmed that City inserted a sell-on clause when completing a deal with the Saints. That means that if Lavia moves to another club, the treble winners will receive a percentage of the sale.
With Southampton said to value the midfielder at £50 million, City would therefore receive £10 million if any sale is completed.
Pep Guardiola’s side also have a buy-back clause inserted in Lavia’s contract – but this only becomes active from the summer of 2024. Therefore, if Arsenal want to secure the 19-year-old’s signature, they may well have to do it this summer to avoid potential competition from his former club.
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