Southampton midfielder Romeo Lavia opens up on transfer talk amid Manchester United links

Southampton midfielder and former Manchester City man Romeo Lavia has admitted that he is not paying attention to transfer rumours despite being linked with a move to Manchester United.

MEN Sport understands that the Reds are looking to strengthen their midfield reinforcements in the summer although the search for a striker is of more importance. The Daily Mail reported earlier this week that Lavia had become a target of Erik ten Hag thanks to his performances on the South Coast.

The defensive midfielder moved to the Saints in the summer and despite suffering from a hamstring injury early into his spell at St Mary's, he has recovered to become a key player in Ruben Selles' team. Ahead of his side's clash with Leicester City this weekend, Lavia spoke about rumours that are linking him with some of the big clubs in England.

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He told Sky Sports: "I don’t read it because I just don’t think about it. I just enjoy my football and focus on what we have to do as a club.

"Whatever is outside, it is not what I can control, so I don’t pay attention to that. Football, with how it goes, it goes so fast.

"One moment you can be in the headlines and the next, you’re not. So the only thing to do is just be neutral, don’t think about it and get your head down and work."

The 19-year-old may have only just joined Southampton but, should the Saints be relegated from the Premier League, it is expected that top flight clubs will come calling. As well as United, Chelsea and Arsenal have also been linked with the midfielder.

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