Chelsea legend Eden Hazard has told 19-year-old Southampton midfielder Romeo Lavia to move to Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea are set to renew their interest in Lavia, as well as Brighton’s Moises Caicedo, after missing out on top defensive midfield target Manuel Ugarte to Paris Saint-Germain.
Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly sanctioned a £50million bid for Lavia at the end of last summer.
But Southampton swiftly rejected the bid as they had only signed him from Manchester City less than two months before.
However, Lavia is reportedly up for sale following Southampton’s relegation from Premier League this season,
And according to the Express, the Saints want at least £45million for Lavia while Chelsea’s director of recruitment Joe Shields, the man who signed the Belgium International for Southampton, is said to be the main driving force behind the Blues’ interest.
The report added that Hazard, a former Chelsea winger, has also spoken to his fellow Belgian about his time at Stamford Bridge.
The former Real Madrid star has ‘actively encouraged’ Lavia to move to west London should the opportunity arise.