Manchester United is reportedly one of many Premier League teams interested in signing Romeo Lavia from Southampton. The teenage midfielder has spent just one season at St. Mary’s and looks set for a summer transfer.

What’s new with Lavia moving to Manchester United?

The one-cap Belgian international, who has previously been linked with a move to Old Trafford, appears to be a “option” for the Red Devils, according to journalist Miguel Delaney. Earlier in the transfer window, the Red Devils were also mentioned as potential buyers of the former Manchester City youth player.

The transfer insider revealed in his article for The Independent that United are ‘considering trying to trump’ rivals Liverpool in their pursuit of the 19-year-old, with the Merseysiders having only recently had a £41m offer rejected by the Saints.

The Championship club has reportedly slapped a £50m asking price on the head of their prize asset, who is also drawing admiring glances from both Arsenal and Chelsea. According to the report, Erik ten Hag will need to move players from his current squad before making a move for the youngster.

Who is Romeo Lavia as a player?

The Southampton starlet is not the only midfield player in the market that United are showing interest in, as Delaney also noted; Fiorentina’s Sofyan Amrabat is also a player who has caught Ten Hag’s attention, having previously worked with the Dutchman at FC Utrecht.

As far as the Red Devils are concerned, it would seem that they only have two options: either they choose the more seasoned option in Amrabat, or they choose the perhaps more exciting, high-potential talent in Lavia.

The latter player not only has previous top-flight experience in English football thanks to his 29 league appearances for the south coast club last season, but he also has received high praise for his performances thus far. Journalist Dean Jones even claims that the Belgian native is “on the verge of greatness” based on his performances.

Lavia, a player who typically plays in the defensive-midfield position, has a CIES Football Observatory value of €20 million (£17 million), making him a more likely candidate to succeed Casemiro in that deep-lying position. The club is reportedly in desperate need of a player who can compete with and cover for the Brazilian.

The ball-winning prowess of Casemiro, who averaged 4.4 tackles and interceptions per game last season, was evident, but young Lavia was not far behind with 3.2, which was a much better performance than Amrabat’s in Serie A (two tackles and interceptions per game).

The teen rock also ranks in the top 4% among players in his position in Europe’s top five leagues for blocks made, while Amrabat, by contrast, ranks in just the bottom 30% in that category, demonstrating his ability to sense danger.

Lavia has caught the attention of many because he has the ability to drive forward from deep with the ball at his feet. He ranks in the top 25% for successful take-ons, which is again a far greater return than his midfield counterpart, who only ranks in the bottom 34% for that same metric. Lavia is also a player who may represent a more suitable long-term fit than the 26-year-old Fiorentina player.

The 5 foot 11 prospect has been predicted to be a “top player” by international teammate Kevin De Bruyne and dubbed “unbelievable” by ex-Saints player Nathan Redmond. Ten Hag will have the opportunity to develop an exciting young talent next season.

Amrabat will turn 27 later this month, so the United manager might have to start thinking about replacing the Dutch ace soon. In contrast, Lavia might continue to be the engine of Ten Hag’s team for many years to come.