According to reports, Anderlecht’s versatile defensive midfielder Roméo Lavia has interested a number of Premier League clubs, including Manchester City, Manchester United and Liverpool.
The reports in Friday’s edition of Belgian outlet Het Nieuwsblad (via Sport Witness) claim that Manchester City are waiting on the 16-year-old’s decision regarding whether or not he would like to join Pep Guardiola’s side, following his announcement on Instagram that he would be leaving Anderlecht at the end of this season.
Het Nieuwsblad also claims that the defensive midfielder has several potential destinations to choose from, although ‘everyone assumes’ that he will join City.
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The 16-year-old, who can also operate from centre-back, has featured for Belgium’s U15 and U16 sides, although he has yet to make a professional appearance in football.
Despite his inexperience – which is only natural at such a young age – Het Nieuwsblad claims that Lavia is a ‘top talent’, and earlier reports by Het Laatste Nieuws state that scouts from Manchester United have also been impressed by the midfielder, while Liverpool have also reportedly shown ‘profound interest’ in the player.
They also relay comments made by Bob Browaeys, who coached Lavia at U16 level and stated in a report on youth players in Belgium: “He is still looking for his best position because he is not the largest and is already fully grown.”
He continued: “I see Roméo staying central and not moving to the flank. Roméo defends well, plays cleanly and likes to infiltrate – typically [a style of] Anderlecht. It will depend on his future coaches in which position he will grow.”
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As such, it would appear that Pep Guardiola could potentially have to mould Lavia to the player he would like him to become, whether that is in central defence or in a wider position.