Chelsea’s forgotten man Romeo Lavia could play huge role under Enzo Maresca

All the talk online from a Chelsea perspective in recent days has been about Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.

The 25-year-old has moved to Stamford Bridge for £30million on a five-year contract. Many expect, if Enzo Maresca goes with a three-man midfield at Chelsea, that Dewsbury-Hall will play alongside Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo in the middle of the pitch.

And, to be fair, that is understandable. Chelsea’s two most expensive signings of all-time in Fernandez and Caicedo could well be joined by Dewsbury-Hall, someone who Maresca clearly trusts after he starred in Leicester City’s Championship-winning 2023/24 campaign.

Not many are mentioning Romeo Lavia. Signed from Southampton for £58million in August 2023, there was such excitement and anticipation surrounding the Belgian midfielder, who looked all but set to join Liverpool earlier in the summer transfer window.

Chelsea, though, swooped in – with a big thanks to Joe Shields who is understood to have played a significant role in signing the former Manchester City midfielder. Shields was at the Etihad Stadium and Southampton with Lavia prior to moving to Chelsea; and after a conversation with the Blues official, the Belgian’s mind was said to be made up.

Such excitement and anticipation, though, was met with sheer disappointment and sadness when Lavia endured a nightmare debut season with the club. He signed for Chelsea with an injury and a setback meant he did not play until just after Christmas time.

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When his name was read out when coming on as a substitute in the win against Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge, there was unsurprisingly a loud cheer from the home supporters, who were eager to see their new signing in action. After the game, though, Mauricio Pochettino confirmed he had picked up a knock in his cameo appearance.

That ‘knock’ led him to miss the remainder of the campaign. The 20-year-old midfielder did not require surgery but another setback to the thigh injury he suffered in December meant his season was over before it had even got going.

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There is some hope, though, that Lavia will be able to take some part in pre-season. The Belgian midfielder would have been a shoo-in for the Euro 2024 campaign with the Red Devils this summer but such little football and fitness problems meant it was virtually impossible.

The thing is with Lavia; Chelsea do not really have anyone like him in the squad. An aggressive, ball-winning midfielder who is equally comfortable while in possession than he is trying to win the ball back for his side.

Plenty of defensive midfielders choose to screen and protect their back-four but Lavia is different. His ability – and to put it better – willingness to jump in front of the opposition and win the ball back makes him an incredible asset for a side that looks to counter-press.

Maresca showed during his sole season with Leicester that he likes his side to press and quickly regain the ball. On the ball, also, Chelsea will not be losing anything when Lavia is in the base of a midfield three.

His decision-making was spot on for Southampton most of the time and he always looks to play forward with progressive passes into the attacker’s feet. At times last season, Chelsea’s defence was strongly criticised.

However, with no natural defensive midfielder, a No.6, in front of them – they were often left exposed. Maybe it is because we have not seen practically anything of him in a Chelsea shirt, but there is real excitement – from those who remember he is at Stamford Bridge – for Lavia to start his career in west London. It should offer a really intriguing and fascinating dynamic to Maresca’s side.