Arsenal and Chelsea could have to stump up some cash to pay Manchester City this summer as the three teams all reach a conflict of interests.
They are not only three of the sides keen on signing Declan Rice - City entered the mix after Arsenal's first bid for £80million was rejected - they are also the trio closest to becoming the home for Romeo Lavia.
The Southampton teenager is attracting plenty of attention, including from Manchester United as well, and is expected to leave the south coast after his side were relegated.
In what was his first season as a senior player, Lavia made 29 appearances in the league with 26 starts and was a shining light of an otherwise disappointing year. After moving from the Etihad Stadium just over 12 months ago he made an immediate impact in the top flight.
Only weeks after his debut for Saints he scored his first goal, netting the winner against Chelsea and condemning Thomas Tuchel to defeat at St Mary's. That goal seemed to catch the attention of Tuchel and the Chelsea owners as it is suggested they made a desperate last ditch attempt to buy him just one day later.
Having only transferred already that window for £15million, the reported £50million deadline day bid posed as proof of his immediate impact and the desire of Chelsea to sign a new midfielder. That same demand still exists even with the addition of Enzo Fernandez in January.
READ MORE: Chelsea news and transfers LIVE: Done deal, medical set, Moises Caicedo plan, Victor Osimhen twist
The Blues are now preparing to lose as many as five players in that position in the coming months and have identified Lavia as one of their key priorities alongside Moises Caicedo.
They are being pushed the whole way by Arsenal, though. With the Gunners also putting up competition for Caicedo and Rice, the goals of both sides remain intertwined.
Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano now writes that Edu is working his major at Arsenal yet again and that the north Londoners are in advanced stages with the player over personal terms. It will take an offer of over £32million to lure him away from Southampton, though, with the Championship newbies looking for a record buy for an Under-21.
That would mean overtaking the money Manchester United paid for Luke Shaw and poses as a benchmark for teams to consider. What it does not take into account is the role of Pep Guardiola's side.
Not only do they have a clause which means that they can sign the player for £40million next summer, there is also chance for them to earn money out of the deal even if he goes elsewhere.
Romano writes that their sell-on clause would mean that Chelsea or Arsenal could end up making their rivals even financially stronger should either of the London clubs come out on top in their attempts to purchase the Belgium star.
