Newcastle United has reportedly set their sights on Romeo Lavia and James Ward-Prowse as potential summer signings to boost their midfield. With the club on the verge of securing a Champions League spot under their new ownership, it seems Newcastle is intent on securing top talent to stay competitive.
Following their win against Southampton, journalist Craig Hope revealed that Newcastle has been keen on Lavia for some time now. Although Ward-Prowse is also on the list, the Englishman is a low priority.
If the Magpies are looking to add to their attacking arsenal, then Ward-Prowse is the more suitable choice. He has provided more shot-creating actions and scored more goals and assists than Lavia. However, defensively, Lavia has been an absolute monster for Southampton this season. He has returned just under 2.5 tackles per 90 minutes and has also racked up considerably more progressive yards in carries per 90 minutes.
Lavia has a £40m buy-back clause with Manchester City, but Southampton’s precarious position in the league could see the Saints look to offload some of their valuable players. Chelsea is reportedly also showing an interest in the 19-year-old with Manchester United credited with an interest in the £50m-rated Ward-Prowse.
Newcastle’s promising future may entice the young talents, and it’ll be interesting to see which player the Magpies ultimately decide on.
