Eden Hazard ‘actively encourages’ Chelsea target to ‘take the chance’ to make Stamford Bridge transfer

Chelsea are ready to sign Romeo Lavia from Southampton this summer and Eden Hazard has tried to play his part in the transfer, according to reports.

Lavia was of interest to Chelsea last summer and Fabrizio Romano claimed they had a £50 million bid rejected for the midfielder in the closing stages of the transfer window.

The 19-year-old was relegated with Southampton from the Premier League last month and ahead of the window opening on June 14, speculation over Lavia’s future is beginning to increase.

Mauricio Pochettino, who was appointed as Chelsea’s new head coach on an initial two-year contract last week, is looking to sign a midfielder this summer, with Mateo Kovacic and Ruben Loftus-Cheek two of many departures on the cards.

Chelsea missed out on the signing of Sporting CP midfielder Manuel Ugarte, who is now PSG bound after the Blues pulled out over the weekend due to not wanting to pay above ‘market value’ for the Uruguayan.

Brighton & Hove Albion’s Moises Caicedo is of interest, while Lavia remains on Chelsea’s shortlist, according to reports.

The Daily Express claim Chelsea are ‘set to push’ for the teenager to bring him to Stamford Bridge, with Joe Shields – Chelsea’s director of recruitment and talent – sounding out Lavia’s camp.

Having had long-term interest shown in him, Lavia also reportedly sought the advice of former Chelsea star Eden Hazard prior to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

It’s claimed Lavia spoke with Hazard about his Chelsea experience, with the Real Madrid winger said to have ‘actively encouraged his international team-mate to take the chance to join Chelsea if the opportunity arrives’.

Man City have a buy-back clause which becomes active in 2024. They also have a sell-on clause of 20 percent.

Hazard left Chelsea in the summer of 2019 for his dream move to the Bernabeu after seven years in west London, but it’s been anything but a dream on the field.

He will now leave the Spanish club this month after they mutually agreed to terminate his contract, with his Madrid spell significantly hampered by injuries.