Chelsea reportedly attempted to include Romeo Lavia as part of a swap arrangement for Alejandro Garnacho this summer. Garnacho's future at Old Trafford was cast into uncertainty at the end of last season when the forward expressed his frustration with Manchester United's disappointing Premier League campaign, which saw them finish in a dismal 15th position.
After a summer of upheaval, the 21-year-old secured a £40million transfer to Stamford Bridge, while Ruben Amorim strengthened his attacking arsenal with the signings of Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko. However, according to ESPN, rather than a straightforward cash transaction, it is understood that United were presented with Chelsea prospect Lavia as part of the arrangement for Garnacho - only for the Red Devils to reject the proposal due to fitness concerns. A product of the Manchester City youth setup in 2021, Lavia completed a switch to Southampton the following year, where he made 34 appearances for the Saints.
Throughout his period at St Mary's, his former manager Pep Guardiola was swift to heap praise upon him regarding his progression. Speaking before a clash between City and Southampton in April 2023, the Spanish tactician said: "I am really impressed with what Romeo has done and is doing.
"We had, and we have, an incredible opinion about him. We thought to keep him, but maybe he would not (get) enough minutes like he has in Southampton."
While Lavia secured a £58m move to Chelsea just a year after joining Southampton, the young player has struggled to establish himself in Enzo Maresca's team.
The news suggests that Chelsea also harbour concerns about the midfielder. The Belgian has faced tough competition for his position from the likes of Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo, and has also been hampered by injuries since his arrival in west London.
Lavia is understood to have missed a staggering 79 matches for the Blues due to ankle, hamstring and thigh problems, as well as muscle strain - adding to the medical challenges that Maresca has had to deal with since taking over last summer. This season alone, Maresca has seen several key players miss crucial game time due to injury, with Cole Palmer, Levi Colwill and Liam Delap all sidelined for extended periods.
Fortunately, these fitness issues haven't significantly hindered Chelsea's Premier League title ambitions so far this season, as the London club currently sits third in the top-flight table with six victories, two draws and three defeats under their belt. They have also triumphed in four of their last five league matches.
In the Champions League, meanwhile, Chelsea are currently in 12th place following two wins, a draw and a defeat in their opening four games. Maresca is fully aware of the challenge that awaits when Chelsea resume Premier League action on Saturday, 22 November, as they gear up to face a tenacious Burnley side led by Scott Parker. The Blues also have fixtures against Barcelona and Arsenal before the month ends, marking the start of a busy schedule leading up to the new year.