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Chelsea's injury-plagued midfielder Romeo Lavia is facing another extended spell on the sidelines, with manager Enzo Maresca revealing the Belgian won't return until the Premier League's final stretch.
Maresca delivered the disappointing update during Friday's press conference, stating, "I feel sad for him. We have 16 games of the (Premier League) season left and we hope to have Romeo back for the last 10." This timeline suggests Lavia could make his comeback around mid-March, potentially in time for Chelsea's crucial fixture against Arsenal.
The news comes as another setback for the 20-year-old midfielder, whose £58 million ($74m) move from Southampton 18 months ago has been marred by persistent injury problems. Since his high-profile transfer to Stamford Bridge, Lavia has managed just 13 appearances, with ankle and hamstring issues severely limiting his impact. The situation has raised questions about the significant investment made by the Blues in securing his services.
As Chelsea prepare to host London rivals West Ham in the Premier League on Monday, Lavia will once again be forced to watch from the sidelines, continuing what has become an unfortunate pattern in his Chelsea career thus far. The midfielder's extended absence represents another challenge for Maresca's squad as they navigate through the remainder of the season.
