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Enzo Maresca’s side opened up a three-point gap on sixth-placed Nottingham Forest with a 3-1 win at Stamford Bridge, one of their most impressive displays of the season.

The victory was capped by Cole Palmer’s first goal for Chelsea in 12 games.

However, another significant factor was the display of midfielder Romeo Lavia, who excelled alongside Moises Caicedo.



In arguably his best display since his £53million move from Southampton in 2023, Lavia produced a flawless passing display and was also influential off the ball.

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It was just his 16th club appearance after an injury-plagued 18 months in west London.

Lavia played just once in his debut season after ankle and thigh problems, while a hamstring issue ruled him out for a month at the start of this campaign.

The 21-year-old’s presence alongside Caicedo also enables Enzo Fernandez to play in a more advanced role.

However, seeing how his midfield trio of Fernandez, Lavia, and Caicedo clicked against the Premier League champions could now change his thinking.

The Brazilian’s wage demands are also likely to be high, given he’s currently on £74,000-a-week in Serie A.

If Lavia can stay fit, it now looks like money Chelsea don’t need to spend.

Speaking after his standout display, Lavia said: “My goal for the whole season was to be with the team and help them as much as I can.
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