Southampton are having the last laugh over Chelsea in £53m transfer saga: View | OneFootball

Southampton are vying for a top-flight return under Russell Martin, after enduring a disastrous 2022/23 Premier League season in which the Saints finished rock-bottom after accumulating just 25 points.

The Saints faithful will want to forget about last season's disaster, which will be significantly easier to do if Martin guides the club to an immediate Premier League return.

However, there were some bright sparks during the Hampshire outfit's last season in the top-flight, such as the positive performances of midfielder Romeo Lavia, who left the Saints for Chelsea in a deal worth an initial fee of £53m following his former club's relegation to the Championship.

Lavia joined the Saints just one year before his departure in the summer of 2022, after exiting Manchester City, who have dominated the Premier League title race in recent seasons.

The Belgian was a member of the Saints' contingent of former City players which still includes goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu and 21-year-old wideman Samuel Edozie.

TeamTalk have revealed that Lavia is frustrated with the way in which things have gone for him at the Blues, which is far from surprising given his injury record, which has kept him away from Premier League action. That same TeamTalk report also claimed that earlier this month, Blues boss Mauricio Pochettino said that the midfielder was not even training with his teammates and is still recovering from his latest injury setback.

Blues supporters may also be frustrated by the lack of impact their summer signing has had at Stamford Bridge, while the Saints faithful will currently be grateful for the £53m their club received; they could soon forget about their former player if they earn promotion back to the top-flight, with new heroes to worship.

Southampton are the winners of Lavia deal

The transfer fee paid to the Saints by Chelsea is an incredibly handsome one for any Championship side, particularly when the player has suffered chronic injury issues since.

Lavia has made just one appearance for the Blues, which came in December against London rivals Crystal Palace. Following his arrival from the South Coast, the 20-year-old suffered an ankle injury, which kept him sidelined until his debut in December before he picked up a thigh injury.

He has spent almost the entirety of his Blues career on the sidelines so far, with Chelsea, as things stand, looking at an expensive resource they've had no use out of; Southampton are the clear winners.

Martin's men, meanwhile, received a lucrative transfer fee, and are not missing Lavia's services, as they tussle with Leeds United and Ipswich Town for automatic promotion in the Championship.

The Saints also boast a strong midfield through the likes of Flynn Downes, who is like a metronome in the middle of the park, and Will Smallbone, who is a key member of Martin's team, having spent the 2022/23 campaign on loan at fellow Championship outfit Stoke City. The addition of Joe Rothwell also looks a sound one.

On the other hand, Mauricio Pochettino's side have been underwhelming in the Premier League so far this season, and may be beginning to wonder how their season could have gone if Lavia could remain fit. Whilst the ex-Southampton man wouldn't be a creative, goalscoring force from midfield, he would provide other things. During the 2022/23 Premier League season (see table above), Lavia was among the best midfielders when it came to interceptions and recoveries, whilst his duel success was also very impressive.

These are impressive statistics which demonstrate why the youngster was an attractive buy for Chelsea. It is his injury woes that mean that the Blues have not benefited from his qualities, while the Saints are reaping the benefits of the transfer fee they received and have been able to move on swiftly without Lavia rubbing salt in the wounds by impressing again for his new club.

That could change in the future but, for now, it's clear Southampton are the winners of this saga.