Chelsea attempted to include former Mauricio Pochettino signing Romeo Lavia in the deal that saw Alejandro Garnacho move to Stamford Bridge, but Manchester United rejected the opportunity due to concerns about the midfielder's fitness record.
The Garnacho Transfer Saga
Chelsea finally secured the signature of Argentine international Alejandro Garnacho from Premier League rivals Manchester United last summer after months of negotiations. The Blues paid £40 million for the winger, who was once considered one of the most exciting prospects at Old Trafford.
United manager Ruben Amorim sanctioned Garnacho's departure after growing frustrated with both the player's form and his attitude off the pitch. Chelsea had been in talks with the Red Devils for several months before eventually agreeing the deal at the end of August.
The West London club were initially unwilling to meet United's asking price of around £60 million and tried to use players as makeweights in the transaction to reduce the cash component.
Lavia Offered and Rejected
According to ESPN, one of the players Chelsea offered to Manchester United was midfielder Romeo Lavia, but the Old Trafford hierarchy turned down the opportunity due to serious concerns over his injury history.
Chelsea had spent £58 million to sign Lavia from Southampton in 2023 when Mauricio Pochettino was in charge at Stamford Bridge. At the time of his move to Chelsea, there was significant interest in the Belgian, with Premier League rivals Liverpool particularly disappointed to miss out on his signature.
In hindsight, Liverpool's disappointment may have been a blessing in disguise as Lavia has struggled terribly with recurring injury problems since arriving in West London. The 21-year-old managed just one appearance during his entire first season at Chelsea and only featured in 16 league games last term.
Current Situation and Consequences
Lavia's persistent fitness issues have seen him fall down the pecking order at Stamford Bridge under current manager Enzo Maresca, who has handed him just one Premier League start this season.
Despite Amorim's desire to bolster his midfield options during the summer transfer window, United decided against pursuing a move for the injury-prone Lavia. The club are now being linked with alternatives including Brighton's Carlos Baleba, Nottingham Forest's Elliot Anderson and Atletico Madrid's Conor Gallagher.
However, ESPN reports that United will likely wait until the summer to bring in midfield reinforcements rather than making a move in the January transfer window.
As for Garnacho, the United academy graduate endured a slow start to his Chelsea career, failing to score or provide an assist in his first six games. However, his form has improved recently, with two goals and two assists in Chelsea's last four matches before the international break.
Former Chelsea midfielder Steve Sidwell has backed Garnacho to develop into "one of the best players in Europe," telling TNT Sports: "Chelsea fans are crying out to see the real Garnacho. He's certainly got some talent and the quality. We just need to see it more in a Chelsea shirt. When he's in form, he's one of the best in Europe, that's for sure."
Maresca's Chelsea side, currently sitting third in the Premier League, return to action on Saturday against Burnley before a Champions League clash with Spanish champions Barcelona.
