"I just felt Liverpool was the perfect club for him" - Theo Walcott says Chelsea star should have joined Reds instead
Former Arsenal star Theo Walcott has claimed that Chelsea midfielder Romeo Lavia should have moved to Liverpool instead. The Englishman labelled the Belgian youngster as a "very talented" prospect and expressed his worry over a lack of game-time for him under Enzo Maresca.
Walcott and Lavia shared the pitch for Southampton in the latter's first full senior season. The pair played 21 games together for the Saints in a season that saw the team get relegated from the Premier League.
Despite the relegation, Lavia was one of the most impressive under-21 talents in the league. He gained acclaim for his defensive prowess and football acumen, earning him a move to Stamford Bridge in August 2023.
Liverpool were also interested in signing the Belgian last summer. However, he rejected an offer from the Reds, as he reportedly felt that the club considered him a second choice after their attempt to sign Moises Caicedo fell through.
Walcott, who retired from football after Southampton's relegation in 2023, believes that a move to Anfield would have been better for Lavia's career. In an interview with BBC Radio 5 Live, the 35-year-old said (via Independent):
“There was talk of him going to Chelsea and Liverpool, and I thought, as a player, Liverpool would be the perfect club right now. Their midfield at the time was rebuilding and it was a new structure... I just felt Liverpool was the perfect club for him at that time in his career if he was going to move on."
Heaping praise on Lavia's impressive qualities at such a young age, Walcott added:
"He’s a very talented footballer, very talented. I saw him week in, week out - he trained his heart out, probably trained too much and then obviously got that serious injury (which kept him sidelined for almost the entirety of the 2023-24 campaign)."
"There are good players who just won't get a chance" - Theo Walcott expresses concern over Romeo Lavia's role at Chelsea
Ex-Arsenal forward Theo Walcott expressed concern over his former teammate Romeo Lavia's role in Chelsea's long-term project under Enzo Maresca.
Despite joining from Southampton in August 2023 for a reported £58 million, the Belgian has made just one appearance for the Blues so far. He was ruled out of action for almost the entirety of the 2023-24 campaign with hamstring and ankle injuries.
Although he has featured in all six of Chelsea's pre-season games so far, he will have tough competition for a starting role under Maresca. The Blues have already added Renato Veiga and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall to their midfield in this transfer window, and could potentially add more talent to their incredibly deep squad.
Walcott is concerned that Lavia could be moved on before being given a fair run in Chelsea's starting lineup. In an interview with BBC Radio 5 Live, he said (via Independent):
"I'm worried that he will be one of those Chelsea players that will just move on and you won't hear much of him. The amount of players Chelsea are signing, there are good players who just won't get a chance. They just won't be seen or sent on loan to lower league clubs."