Lavia has been one of the key figures in a crazy 48 hours which has seen Liverpool and Chelsea tussling over his signature. As things stand, it’s neigh on impossible to call where the Belgian will end up.
What is clear though, is that Lavia be leaving Southampton over the coming weeks. And in quotes via Sky Sports journalist Mark McAdam on Twitter, Martin appears to confirm that he’s accepted this.
“I believe it’s edging closer to a conclusion…” the manager reportedly said.
McAdam also reports that Martin expects Lavia has played his last game for Saints. Rather than any fitness issue, the Southampton boss is claimed to have cited his player not being ‘in the right frame of mind’ to play as a reason to leave him out today.
Lavia saga nears conclusion
For Lavia – and all of our sakes – we hope Martin is right on this one. Moises Caicedo may have erupted over the past couple of days, but this is a transfer saga that has been dragging on for weeks and even months.
For a lot of that time, it looked like Liverpool were near enough a nailed-on destination for the 19-year-old.
But with Chelsea entering the frame strongly over the past day or so, that’s now much less clear. The Blues are said to be nearing a £55m agreement with Southampton.
By all accounts Lavia himself is still set on a move to Anfield above all else. But as the Reds wait out their bid for Caicedo, it remains to be seen whether he’s afforded that.
The latest appears to be that Liverpool are interested in both Caicedo and Lavia. Meanwhile, and unbelievably, the same seems to be true of Chelsea, too.
However this plays out, Lavia has made his mark on one of the most enthralling and bizarre transfer stories of recent years. But back on the pitch, his match fitness will be waning having already missed three games this season.
This needs wrapping up one way or another before the Belgium international loses out on much more football.
