Chelsea are set for a busy summer season, because the membership are concentrating on a brand new striker, a right-footed winger and a central defender.
There have already been loads of hyperlinks, because the membership attracts up their plans forward of the summer season break.
Nonetheless, Enzo Maresca will probably be hoping enterprise might be executed shortly, as simply weeks after the Premier League season concludes, his facet will probably be competing within the FIFA Membership World Cup, which appears to have been positioned in excessive regard by the Chelsea homeowners.
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Chelsea maintain talks to signal new winger
One space that’s key for Maresca and his system is his extensive males, typically remoted in 1v1 eventualities and given the duty to create possibilities for the facet.
While Noni Madueke and Pedro Neto have proven some good indicators from the proper, Jadon Sancho hasn’t been as constant off the left – scoring simply as soon as since eighth December – while Mykhailo Mudryk is at the moment unavailable by way of suspension.
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So, who may are available? Effectively, in accordance with reviews from Blues insider Simon Phillips, Chelsea have held preliminary talks with Jorge Mendes this week, relating to a possible switch for AC Milan ahead, Rafael Leao.
While the Portugal worldwide is probably going probably the most high-profile title being touted, the Blues have additionally been linked with a bunch of different extensive targets resembling Jamie Gittens, Alejandro Garnacho and Nico Williams.
Leao, aged 25, has been linked with Chelsea prior to now, with the Blues reportedly failing to signal him again in 2023, providing player-swap offers to attempt to get it over the road.
Any deal might be difficult by his astronomical launch clause, which reportedly exceeds £80m.
Why Leao could be such signing for Chelsea
The dazzling winger has made 46 appearances to this point this season, scoring 11 targets, offering 12 assists and totalling 3,253 minutes performed. The Portuguese winger actually matches the mould of a Maresca winger going ahead, with the one actual query mark being his willingness to work exhausting off the ball.
To determine how good a signing he could be, we are able to examine him to a different of Chelsea’s switch targets. It has been reported this week that they’re set to ‘push’ for the arrival of Juventus star, Kenan Yildiz, who is not fairly the identical profile of ahead as Leao.
Yildiz is extra of a hybrid winger, who likes to float inside and play in central attacking midfield areas, dropping deep to choose up the ball and assist build-up earlier than attacking the field and seeking to create on the high finish of the pitch.
|
Rafael Leao vs Kenan Yildiz comparability |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Stats (per 90 minutes) |
Leao |
Yildiz |
|
Objectives |
0.29 |
0.24 |
|
Assists |
0.29 |
0.13 |
|
xG |
0.27 |
0.15 |
|
xAG |
0.28 |
0.15 |
|
Progressive Carries |
4.77 |
4.15 |
|
Progressive Passes |
3.62 |
4.25 |
|
Photographs Whole |
2.29 |
2.39 |
|
Key Passes |
2.01 |
1.66 |
|
Shot-Creating Actions |
4.22 |
4.09 |
|
Profitable Take-Ons |
2.86 |
2.43 |
|
Stats taken from FBref |
||
When evaluating their underlying metrics this season, you may see Leao is extra direct along with his actions, driving with the ball, seeking to beat his man 1v1 and supply output for the group. Such are his distinctive abilities on this space that the Athletic’s Alex Barker as soon as proclaimed that he’s “top-of-the-line dribblers on this planet”.
Then again, Yildiz excels along with his artistic actions, making intelligent passes, thriving in tight areas and taking barely extra photographs per sport.
The Juve attacker has the flexibility to beat his man 1v1 with exact dribbling, mix along with his teammates and break open video games by way of his high quality, however he is not the identical relentless kind of winger as Leao, who is healthier suited to Maresca’s present mannequin.
Ex-AC Milan winger Ronaldinho had excessive reward for Leao again in 2022, labelling the Portuguese winger as “top-of-the-line” on this planet on the time, rubberstamping why he’d be such an distinctive acquisition this summer season.
Ought to Leao get a transfer to Chelsea, he may thrive within the limitless 1v1 alternatives Maresca’s system would provide him with, however he must be prepared to work more durable off the ball with the intention to make issues work.
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