Romeo Lavia is edging closer to his Chelsea debut as the promising 19-year-old midfielder participated in training alongside his teammates at Cobham on Monday.
Having recently sealed a substantial £58 million transfer from Southampton, turning down advances from Liverpool, Lavia is yet to grace the field for the Blues.
Mauricio Pochettino had previously noted that Lavia would require a few weeks to fully prepare himself for competitive action with his new club.
In light of a large portion of the squad being engaged in international duties, Lavia will seize the opportunity to intensify his preparations at Cobham amidst the sweltering conditions.
This regimen is geared towards Chelsea’s imminent return to Premier League action against AFC Bournemouth in just under two weeks.
It’s plausible that this encounter could see Pochettino deploy a midfield trio that has garnered immense anticipation since Lavia’s recent acquisition.
Primarily positioned as a No.6, Lavia adeptly commands the base of a midfield threesome, flanked by dynamic energy on either side.
Moises Caicedo (£115 million) and Enzo Fernandez (£106 million) are the ideal complements to Lavia, perfectly fitting this configuration.
Notably, Conor Gallagher has made an impressive entrance under Pochettino’s leadership and remains a viable option for one of the midfield slots.
On the surface, however, the combination of Lavia, Enzo, and Caicedo appears to possess the most potential for success.
Opponents Bournemouth traditionally adopt a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Philip Billing operating as the No.10 behind Dominic Solanke.
It’s worth considering that Billing often shifts deeper, essentially creating a midfield trio, particularly against teams that dominate possession.
In light of this, Chelsea may choose to align their formation accordingly to avoid being outnumbered when they face Bournemouth on September 17.
The forthcoming match presents an opportunity for Lavia to make his debut appearance for Chelsea, potentially at the Vitality Stadium.
Whether he’ll share the pitch with Enzo and Caicedo remains uncertain, yet the newest addition from Belgium is thrilled at the prospect of representing the Blues.
Lavia attributed his decision to join Chelsea over Liverpool to three pivotal factors: the club’s ambitious project, its storied history, and the excitement of contributing to its legacy.
Speaking to the club’s media team, Lavia expressed his enthusiasm, acknowledging that he looks forward to collaborating with talented players he previously encountered as opponents.
He emphasized the importance of mutual growth to achieve success.
For record signing Caicedo, who faced a somewhat challenging initiation at Chelsea, having Lavia providing additional support behind him could significantly enhance his performance.
As Chelsea gears up to face Bournemouth in their pursuit of a triumphant resurgence, the spotlight will be on numerous developments, with Lavia’s anticipated debut being a noteworthy highlight.