I woke up to another Chelsea transfer rumour today, and this one left me scratching my head. Apparently, Monaco are interested in signing Romeo Lavia and are preparing an offer. While I know transfer rumours fly around every summer, this is one deal I honestly hope doesn't happen.
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When Chelsea signed Lavia, I was genuinely excited. He was one of the most promising young midfielders around, and despite Southampton's struggles, you could easily see his talent. Sadly, injuries have robbed him of the chance to show Chelsea fans what he's really capable of.
That, for me, is the biggest reason why selling him now would feel unfair.
It's easy to forget how young he still is because he's been around top-flight football for a while. At 22, he still has plenty of room to grow, and I don't think we have even seen his best football yet. Judging him after spending so much time on the treatment table just doesn't seem right.
I understand why Monaco are interested. They have a good record of giving young players regular game time and helping them develop. If Lavia moved there, he'd probably play a lot more than he currently does at Chelsea. That could be good for his career.
But from Chelsea's point of view, I think patience is the better option.
The reported fee does ntt excite me either. If Chelsea believed enough in Lavia to hand him a long-term contract, then cashing in now, before he has had a proper run of games, feels like giving up too soon. We could easily end up watching him become a top midfielder somewhere else and wonder why we didn't stick with him.
Of course, everything depends on the manager's plans. If the coaching staff don't see him fitting into the squad, then maybe a transfer makes sense. But if there's still belief in his ability, I'd much rather keep him, help him stay fit, and finally give him the chance to prove why the club signed him in the first place.
As fans, we often ask the club to trust young players. Lavia deserves that same patience. He's had more bad luck than bad performances, and those are two completely different things.
For now, I'd love to see him stay at Stamford Bridge. I still believe there is a very good midfielder in there, and hopefully, we will get the chance to see it sooner rather than later.
