- Romeo Lavia has been ruled out of the remainder of the season with an injury
- The midfielder opted to snub Liverpool and signed with Chelsea instead
- ‘I had a scar on my brain… but I wanted to play’: JAY BOTHROYD’S incredible interview on playing with epilepsy. Listen to the It’s All Kicking Off podcast
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Liverpool fans believe they have ‘dodged a bullet’ after it was announced on Wednesday that Romeo Lavia will be ruled out of the remainder of the season.
The 20-year-old, who has played just 32 minutes this season for Chelsea, snubbed the Merseyside outfit in the summer in favour of a move to Mauricio Pochettino‘s side.
Liverpool had submitted several offers for the former Southampton midfielder, but Chelsea came in at the last moment to sign the midfielder for £58million on a seven-year deal.
Despite that, Lavia has cruelly been plagued by injuries this season. He had made a return from an ankle problem to feature in Chelsea’s 2-1 win vs Crystal Palace in December, but subsequently sustained a significant thigh injury.
It was confirmed todya that he will now miss the remainder of the season due to a set back in his recovery from that problem, with some Liverpool fans taking to social media to claim they may have been better off without him.
One fan wrote: ‘Such a shame to be honest. Seems we dodged a huge bullet though.’
Another said: ‘Remember when they hijacked that deal from Liverpool.’
Despite missing out on Lavia, Jurgen Klopp’s side would instead go on to sign Wataru Endo and Dominik Szoboszlai, who have both played a pivotal part in helping the Reds rise to second in the league.
‘So lucky to have you, Endo,’ another fan said, posting a picture of the Reds’ midfielder.
Chelsea announced the news on Wednesday afternoon, releasing a statement that read: ‘Midfielder Romeo Lavia is to unfortunately miss the remainder of our 2023-24 campaign following a setback in his recovery.
‘Recent medical assessments have confirmed that Lavia, who sustained a significant thigh injury against Crystal Palace back in December, will not feature again this season.’
Liverpool had also tried to sign Moises Caicedo last summer but were again pipped by the Blues after the former Brighton midfielder also opted to join Chelsea for £115m.
The Reds were criticised by some for failing to miss out on both their midfield targets, with Jamie Carragher hitting out at his former side’s transfer policy as ‘an absolute mess’. Despite that things haven’t worked out too badly, with Endo, Alexis Mac Allister and Szoboszlai proving to be three excellent signings.
Meanwhile at Stamford Bridge, the Belgian’s injury has epitomised Chelsea’s woes this season. Pochettino has had to work with a depleated squad at times this season, with his captain Reece James, being sidelined for extended periods this season.
Lavia’s absence may also be an expensive one too, with Chelsea effectively having paid £1.8m per minute that he has played during the campaign.
Chelsea return to action this Saturday as Pochettino’s side welcome Burnley to Stamford Bridge.
They Blues are likely to still be without several stars for the match, including Levi Colwill, Christopher Nkunku and Wesley Fofana.
More to follow…
