MANCHESTER UNITED turned down the opportunity to sign Chelsea talent Romeo Lavia, it’s claimed.
According to reports, Chelsea initially offered the 21-year old to the Red Devils as part of the summer deal that saw Alejandro Garnacho head to Stamford Bridge.
The news comes following a summer transfer window that closed with many United fans feeling the club had failed to secure adequate midfield enforcements.
United’s recruitment team acknowledged the need to solve United’s long-standing vacancies in the middle of the park.
Yet they turned their nose up at Lavia, who has long been touted as one of the most promising young midfielders in world football.
United were opposed to Lavia’s inclusion in the deal due to concerns over the Belgian international’s catastrophic injury record, according to ESPN.
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Chelsea signed Lavia after emerging victorious in a battle with Liverpool to secure his services in a huge £58m move from Southampton in 2023.
Since, Lavia has registered just the 29 appearances for the Blues; missing a whopping 88 games and is yet to complete a full 90 minutes.
Chelsea were willing to sacrifice Lavia in negotiations to lower the cash required to land Garnacho.
They ultimately ended up splashing out £40m to sign peroxide blonde Argentina international.
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Ironically, this news comes just a week after it was announced that Lavia is sidelined once more through a quadriceps injury.
The 21-year old lasted just four minutes before he was forced off in Chelsea’s 2-2 Champions League draw at Qarabag.
When fit the Belgian ace has impressed for Chelsea.
Lavia joins a list of players that includes Christopher Nkunku and Nicolas Jackson who Chelsea also tried to flog to United over the summer window.
