In his latest podcast, former Southampton and Arsenal player Theo Walcott shares his insights on his teammates and the transfer market, in particular giving his thoughts on the future of young midfielder Lavia. Walcott said that Liverpool would be the best place for Lavia to come in his career if he chooses to leave Southampton.
Walcott began by praising Lavea's talent: "Lavea is a very talented player, very gifted. I saw him train every week when I was at Southampton before and he would put his best foot forward, probably over-training at times, which led to a serious injury later on." This description not only shows how hardworking and committed Ravia was in training, but also reveals the relentless hard work behind his talent.
Speaking about Lavia's transfer rumors, Walcott recalled, "There were rumors that he would go to Chelsea and Liverpool, and I think as a player, Liverpool is the perfect club for him at the moment. Liverpool's midfield was being rebuilt at the time, it was a new structure, and the addition of Lavia would certainly breathe new life into the team." Walcott's analysis was based on Liverpool's midfield rebuilding needs at the time and how well Lavia's individual skills fit with the team's tactics.
However, Walcott also noted Ravia's excellent performance in Chelsea's pre-season and expressed his best wishes for him, "Right now his career is a little bit stagnant, but he's had a very good pre-season at Chelsea, and I hope he gets on the pitch." Walcott's words revealed his concern and expectation for Ravia's career development.
Walcott raised his concerns about Ravia's future options: "I just think that if he is going to leave Southampton, Liverpool is the best club for him in his career. I'm worried that he'll be one of those players who won't hear too much about him after he leaves Chelsea. Chelsea have signed a lot of players and some of those good players just don't get a chance." Walcott's concerns are not unfounded, as Chelsea have indeed invested heavily in the transfer market in recent years, but this has also made competition within the squad more intense, with some players struggling to get consistent starts.
Finally, Walcott also spoke about Chelsea's dressing room management, "I don't know how Chelsea's dressing room is supposed to be maintained and managed, they don't have a big man like Terry or Lampard to control these players and put them in their place." This observation reveals the challenges Chelsea may face in terms of player management and team building.
