Leeds United have been linked with a move for Romeo Lavia this week...
What's the word?
That's according to The Athletic's Dan Sheldon, who delivered the transfer claim via Twitter.
He said: "Excl: Southampton and Leeds are interested in Manchester City midfielder Romeo Lavia. He made his senior debut last season & is thought to be one of the most talented young players in his position."
It remains to be seen how much the 18-year-old gem would command but the Yorkshire side are facing stiff competition from Premier League rivals Southampton.
Perfect for Marsch
Lavia is thought to be a hugely-talented holding midfielder, one who could one day cut it in the champions' first-team squad, but Pep Guardiola's side may not be able to refuse a fee at this stage with so many other options ahead of him right now.
The Belgium-born teenager has certainly impressed in the academy ranks, even catching the eye of former City centre-back and skipper Vincent Kompany.
"When Romeo was still training here with the A-squad, he showed he was very eager to learn and willing to listen. He picked up a lot and showed that he is aggressive in recovering the ball and while also being calm on the ball," the new Burnley manager said (via Inside Futbol).
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Whilst he has featured twice for the senior side, Lavia has racked up 58 appearances across the U18s, U19s and U23s at the Etihad Stadium, as per Transfermarkt.
One of those first-team matches saw the Manchester Evening News compare him to the departing Fernandinho, writing: "[He] clearly likes a tackle, and his passes over the top and through the lines were Fernandinho-esque".
The "highly rated" gem would surely be a perfect fit for Leeds manager Jesse Marsch, and potentially a long-term upgrade to the engine room, where the likes of Mateusz Klich have faltered with their form in recent months.
With the addition of Lavia, the American head coach could force the regressing Pole out of the starting XI heading into the 2022/23 campaign. His mantra is that "being more aggressive is always better than being more passive", and that's something he wants to bring to Leeds.
He can do so with the addition of the Man City starlet.
Victor Orta and co must deliver on this front, as Marsch would surely love to have Lavia in his ranks.
AND in other news, The Athletic drop Kalvin Phillips transfer claim...