2022 has been one of the most memorable years for football fans worldwide.
The year has seen some top talent emerge and reach the big stage, with other top talents arising and waiting to announce themselves on the big stage.
In this article, we will see one such player to watch out for from the Premier League in 2023.
The player has been shortlisted based on the number of minutes he has played, his role and importance at club level and of course his potential.
One of the most exciting transfers to happen in the summer was Roméo Lavia’s move from Manchester City to Southampton.
Born in 2004, the 18-year-old midfielder from Belgium has been a mainstay in the Saints’ lineup this season, whenever fit.
The visualization below shows where Belgian midfielder Roméo Lavia ranks for some of the key metrics this season when compared with players who play in a similar position to him.
Originally a youth product of the Belgian club Anderlecht, Lavia predominantly plays as a defensive midfielder for Southampton.
The midfielder is another example of Manchester City’s exciting academy recruitment policy, and there is a reason why City have inserted a buy-back clause on the midfielder.
Lavia possesses strong defensive abilities, with the midfielder ranking above average for positioning and defensive duels.
The midfielder — quite often paired with James Ward-Prowse in midfield — is responsible for receiving the ball from his defenders/goalkeeper and plays an important role in the build-up phase.
Lavia has already set an example on the big stage.
His performances against Chelsea and Manchester United this season in the Premier League speak for themselves.
The midfielder brings a level of maturity to his game, and his versatility has almost become a must-have for modern-day midfielders.
His dribbling, awareness of the ball, and physical strength in possession mean that Lavia is not too far from being compared with Europe’s elite.
Several clubs, including Chelsea, were in the race to sign Roméo Lavia, which shows the phenomenal rise of the Belgian midfielder over the last couple of years.
The 18-year-old, however, is just getting started at the top level, and the midfielder has so much more to offer.
Lavia has shown the potential to be an elite midfielder in the coming years but only time will tell if he can live up to the hype.
One thing is for sure, though; the midfielder is definitely one of the players to watch out for in 2023.
