‘Agreement’: Chelsea have now told national team not to call one of their new signings up – journalist

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Belgium have agreed not to use Chelsea midfielder Romeo Lavia until he is fully fit.

Romeo Lavia has been left out of their latest squad and Evening Standard journalist Nizaar Kinsella says that is down to an agreement between Chelsea and the Red Devils.

Speaking about the 19-year-old’s omission from the Belgium national team on Twitter, Kinsella said: “Chelsea got an agreement with the Red Devils not to use him until he is at full fitness.”

Chelsea spent big money on Lavia this summer, signing him from Southampton in a £58m deal, but the Belgium international is yet to feature for his new club.

He will now be hoping to make his debut after the international break when the Blues travel to the Vitality Stadium to take on Bournemouth.

Romeo Lavia remaining at Cobham is a good call

Lavia now has time to work on his fitness and get used to Mauricio Pochettino’s methods.

All things considered, then, the former Southampton man staying at Cobham instead of linking up with the Belgium national team makes a lot of sense and could help his Chelsea career get off to a good start.

In essence, he can have a mini pre-season under Pochettino, which hopefully helps him when that Bournemouth game comes around if he is fit enough to play in it.

After selling Mason Mount and Mateo Kovacic and allowing N’Golo Kante to leave on a free transfer, Chelsea looked extremely light in midfield. But the arrivals of Lavia and Moises Caicedo have completely changed things for them.