Photo by Wagner Meier/Getty Images
Photo by Wagner Meier/Getty Images
This summer, Chelsea have sold five players and allowed more to leave on loan. But that number is expected to grow quickly over the next fortnight, and Romeo Lavia has emerged as a possible casualty.
Chelsea have raked in £150m from the sales of Marc Cucurella, Andrey Santos, Tyrique George, Trevoh Chalobah and Jimmy-Jay Morgan. Alejandro Garnacho is among the players to have left the club on loan.
Romeo Lavia's passing stats vs Wrexham
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Filip Jorgensen and Genesis Antwi have taken two loan slots up at Strasbourg, while Omari Kellyman could join permanently. Reports also suggest Pedro Neto is closing in on a move to Al Hilal this summer.
Benoit Badiashile is due to do a medical at Napoli today, while others like Enzo Fernandez, Liam Delap, Nicolas Jackson, Tosin Adarabioyo, Gaga Slonina, Marc Guiu and so many more could still be sold.
Plenty is going on, and now Romeo Lavia could join the mass exodus at Chelsea this summer. That is according to reports from widely-renowned journalist Ekrem Konor, who explains Monaco’s position.
READ MORE:Where did it all go wrong for Benoit Badiashile? The defender is due to leave this week
Monaco have made two bids for Chelsea midfielder Romeo Lavia
Belgian star Lavia has struggled over the years with injury since joining Chelsea. During pre-season, in the 3-0 win against Milan, he managed his first 90 minutes in three years, and that says it all regarding Lavia.
Romeo Lavia of Chelsea
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The signing of Jordan Henderson and possibly Valentin Barco have likely pushed Lavia down the pecking order in midfield. Especially if Reece James is used in the middle of the park by new manager Alonso.
Earlier this summer, Monaco tested Chelsea’s resolve. Filipe Luis’ side made a bid earlier this summer, but he remained with Chelsea on tour. Now, according to Koner on Hooligan Soccer, Monaco have returned.
Indeed, the French side have made two bids for the midfielder – one, an instant, permanent transfer worth around £21.5m. The second, a loan deal with an obligation, worth in the region of £29m when activated.
Chelsea FC v AC Milan - Pre-Season Friendly
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Monaco are in talks with Lavia’s representatives, with a three-year contract on the table. Whether their valuation is fair in the eyes of Chelsea remains to be seen, though the Blues did sign Lavia for £58m.
What is Romeo Lavia’s book fee? Does Monaco’s bid mean profit?
Chelsea spent an initial £53m on Lavia, with £5m more in add-ons three years ago. These days, player amortisation only stretches across five years, and that means Lavia is three years into his amortisation fee.
Each of Lavia’s first five years at Chelsea will see him go through £11.6m of his £58m fee. After three years then, Lavia is through £34.8m of his £58m fee. It means anything over £23.2m will be a profit for Chelsea.
Todd Boehly and Mark Walter graphic
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Chelsea’s five – or six, including Garnacho – sales have all been recorded as book profit. George, Chalobah and Morgan were all academy products, while Garnacho, Cucurella and Santos are technically profit.
Chelsea will not want to ruin that streak now. The initial permanent offer of £21.5m for Lavia would have to be improved if he was to be removed from the books. A loan with an obligation would represent profit.
But it all hinges on whether Lavia wants to leave and whether a move to Luis’ Monaco would tempt the Belgian. Given the midfield competition at Chelsea, Lavia may decide to go and Alonso may decide to sell.