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Michael Dawson believes Chelsea midfielder Romeo Lavia would be ‘perfect’ for Manchester City.
Lavia came through Man City’s academy but only made two appearances for the first-team before being sold to Southampton in 2022.
The Belgium international was part of the Southampton side that were relegated from the Premier League but still managed to enhance his reputation during that difficult campaign.
Chelsea saw off competition from Liverpool to sign Lavia for £58m in the summer of 2023 but he barely featured during his first season at Stamford Bridge due to injury issues.
Lavia has continued to struggle with fitness this term but impressed when he has been able to get on the pitch for a Chelsea team that have exceeded expectations despite their blip over the festive period.
Ex-Premier League defender Dawson has been impressed by Lavia and says he would be ‘perfect’ for his former club Manchester City, who have been without injured Ballon d’Or winner Rodri for most of the season.
Lavia is not the only former Man City player thriving at different Premier League club, with Cole Palmer and Liam Delap also impressing since leaving the Etihad Stadium.
‘You look at the players who have left Manchester City… I’m a huge Cole Palmer fan,’ Dawson told Sky Sports.
‘I was before he even went to Chelsea, his game time was limited. You look at Lavia there, Liam Delap, would these players have really got an opportunity at Manchester City to go and fulfil their potential? I’m not too sure.
‘It’s easy in hindsight to see what they’ve gone and done. Lavia’s one who would have been perfect for Manchester City and the way they play with Rodri being out.
‘I love what he’s done, went to Southampton, brilliant. He then had numerous hamstring injuries, gone to Chelsea and struggled a bit with injuries.
‘But when we see him he is a perfect fit for Manchester City, but they have seen these players in the building, and obviously thought they’re a long way away from our first-team so they bring someone else in.
‘People will disagree whether Cole Palmer was the right deal. I still think he was one that Pep needed to keep because I saw enough in the moment in time when he played for Manchester City that he would have got more game time.’
Man City were attempting to win a record-extending fifth successive Premier League title under Pep Guardiola but the Sky Blues have won less than half of their league games to slip to eighth.
Lavia’s impressive form for Chelsea may be a surprise to Guardiola and City but Palmer was never in doubt that he would come good at Stamford Bridge.
‘One person I’ve played with [who is good] is Romeo Lavia,’ the Premier League young player of the season told SPORTbible last summer.
‘We’ve not seen him this season because he’s been injured for a full year but I think he’s one that, when he gets playing everyone will think, “Oh, he’s really good”.’