Chelsea plan immediate Romeo Lavia debut as £50m transfer breakthrough nears

Chelsea are closing in on a ­£50million deal for Romeo Lavia, after the Southampton midfielder rejected Liverpool in favour of a move to Stamford Bridge.

The Blues’ move for the 19-year-old will take their spending on midfielders to £165m in the space of a few days, after they completed a British record £115m transfer of Moises Caicedo last night.

Lavia has followed Caicedo in turning down Liverpool for Chelsea, in another boost for Mauricio Pochettino and another setback for Jurgen Klopp.

Liverpool have been pursuing Lavia all summer, but Chelsea have swooped to snatch him from under their noses.

Chelsea hope to complete a deal in time for Lavia to be in the squad to face West Ham on Sunday alongside Caicedo, who has signed an eight-year contract with an option of a further year.

Chelsea co-director of recruitment and talent Joe Shields is thought to have played a key role in helping Lavia choose them over Liverpool. Shields was instrumental when Southampton signed Lavia from ­Manchester City last summer, before the director was poached by Chelsea in October.

Signing Lavia would take Chelsea’s spending under owners Todd Boehly and Clearlake to beyond £900m and they are also interested in Crystal Palace’s 21-year-old winger Michael Olise.

Chelsea are preparing for a player exodus in the final weeks of the transfer window in a bid to balance the books.

The Blues will step up plans to sell Conor Gallagher, Trevoh Chalobah, Ian Maatsen, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Hakim Ziyech. Carney Chukwuemeka or new £26m signing Lesley Ugochukwu could be loaned out.

Despite Chelsea being willing to lose Gallagher, the 23-year-old midfielder is keen to stay and fight for his place.