Pep Guardiola’s mind put at ease as Chelsea see £33m star ‘board flight’

Following the unfortunate sale of Cole Palmer by Manchester City, Pep Guardiola has been reassured not to fret over Romeo Lavia. Ex-Arsenal player Theo Walcott has voiced concerns that the promising midfielder might get lost in Chelsea’s crowded dressing room due to their heavy spending and risk fading into obscurity.

Lavia was signed by the Blues last summer for a reported £53million plus add-ons but has been plagued with injuries. Guardiola may have had concerns that the former City star would flourish like his team-mate Palmer, whom the Spaniard has previously praised highly.

However, Walcott is worried that Lavia could be overlooked under new manager Enzo Maresca, particularly given Conor Gallagher’s Atletico Madrid deal stalling, which would add another midfielder to an already fierce competition for first-team football, reports the Mirror.

Walcott played alongside Lavia at Southampton after they signed him from Man City in 2022 for around £14m. The Belgian made a strong impression during his single season with the Saints, emerging as one of the top young defensive midfielders in the league.

Guardiola has previously expressed regret over letting the player leave the Etihad, but suggestions that Lavia could struggle at Chelsea – unlike Palmer, who has become one of the Premier League’s best attackers since leaving City – may alleviate his worries.

“He’s a very talented footballer,” Walcott shared with the BBC. “He trained his heart out, probably trained too much. He had a serious injury and obviously missed a whole year. There were talks of him going to Chelsea or Liverpool, and I thought, right, as a player, this is perfect. Liverpool would be the perfect club for right now because the midfield was rebuilding at that particular time.

“Players can, of course, make their choice, but as a career path, he’s stagnated a little bit. The new manager [Maresca] has come in, he’s brought in Dewsbury-Hall, you’ve got Conor Gallagher – similar players to some extent. With the number of players they are signing, good players who just won’t get a chance. They just won’t be seen at Chelsea,” Walcott added.

“They’ll be sent out on loan to lower league clubs and not appear. I am worried Romeo Lavia will just be one of those Chelsea players that will just be gone, and you won’t hear much about.”

His situation will be made tougher by the fact Gallagher flew back to London on Tuesday night after his £33m deal to Atletico stalled at the final hurdle. He has since arrived back in training with Maresca’s side.

While the deal isn’t completely dead yet and could still see Joao Felix return to the Blues, Lavia could be faced with more competition in an already overcrowded midfield.

Chelsea ace Palmer, who shone brightly as the club’s star performer last season, has further cemented his vital role within the squad by penning a fresh contract extension this week. His commitment now runs for an additional two years, ensuring he remains with the Blues until 2033.

Guardiola seemed to hint at a sense of regret over the decision to let the England prodigy depart from Manchester City. Reflecting on the matter last April, Guardiola stated: “He was asking for two seasons to leave Man City. I said: stay. He wanted to leave. What can we do?!”

The City boss praised Palmer, saying: “He’s an exceptional player with super potential… I didn’t give him the minutes he deserves that he now has at Chelsea.”