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Romeo Lavia showcased his maturity when addressing speculation linking him with Manchester United.
The Chelsea midfielder had established himself amongst the Premier League's most promising young players during his time at Southampton in the 2022-23 season. While his performances on the south coast couldn't prevent relegation, they did secure him a transfer to Stamford Bridge in 2023.
The Belgium international was heavily pursued by Liverpool that summer but ultimately chose the Blues, with the Reds signing Wataru Endo instead. Arsenal and the Red Devils were also reportedly interested in signing the teenager during his Southampton spell, and he was questioned about the attention from some of soccer's biggest teams.
Despite his young age, Lavia displayed exceptional professionalism during what was his debut senior campaign, acknowledging the temporary nature of media attention while maintaining his concentration on Southampton's objectives.
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."
Lavia's switch to London was viewed as a significant signing, but more than two years later, he has failed to live up to the hype.
His Chelsea career has been ravaged by injuries. Since arriving at the Blues in August 2023, he has featured in only 30 matches across all competitions.
He is presently sidelined for a month with a muscle strain, and his persistent fitness issues reportedly prompted Chelsea to explore offloading Lavia during the summer transfer window.
According to ESPN, while Alejandro Garnacho completed a transfer from United, the Blues reportedly tried to incorporate Lavia in a swap arrangement for the Argentine. But the Red Devils swiftly rejected the proposal due to apprehensions about his fitness record.
Lavia has accumulated merely 240 minutes of playing time this season, and even when available, he faces stiff competition from Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo for places in Enzo Maresca's midfield.
Following a sluggish beginning to Garnacho's Chelsea stint, the 21-year-old has registered three goals and assists in his previous three league games.
He has been named in the starting XI for the last five top-flight matches, during which the Londoners have secured four victories.
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