Teamwork makes the dream work

Chelsea may signal an “undroppable” PL star for £70m

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Chelsea will not be the juggernaut they as soon as have been however there are hopes that former glory might be restored beneath Enzo Maresca, who is able to tackle the Premier League at Stamford Bridge.

Admittedly, pre-season preparations have encountered snags and setbacks within the type of high-scoring losses in opposition to Manchester Metropolis and Celtic and beforehand a 2-2 draw in opposition to Wrexham to kickstart their United States tour.

The Blues have been by no means going to undertake the possession-centric fashion with out elevating some questions however defensive fragility and a perceived lack of organisation throughout the previous a number of weeks won’t have been welcomed as merely half and parcel of pre-season.

Chelsea: Pre-season Outcomes

Date

Fixture

End result

03/08/2024

vs Man Metropolis

4-2 loss

01/08/2024

vs Membership America

3-0 win

27/08/2024

vs Celtic

4-1 loss

25/08/2024

vs Wrexham

2-2 draw

No, Chelsea should after all belief the method, however that tactical endeavor must enter third or fourth gear throughout the coming fortnight, and a few added impetus in assault may go down a deal with.

Chelsea switch information

As per Soccer Insider, Chelsea have discovered that Manchester Metropolis’s Julian Alvarez might be accessible for £70m this summer time, amid ongoing chatter across the versatile ahead’s future.

Alvarez, 24, is struggling along with his at-times utility position on the membership and would seemingly soar on the likelihood to maneuver, so it now stays to be seen whether or not Chelsea can negotiate a deal.

The west Londoners have a wholesome mixture of attacking choices however may benefit from a participant of Alvarez’s expertise and profitable pedigree, maybe swaying the chances within the bid to return to the Champions League and search out silverware.

Why Chelsea need Julian Alvarez

With Arsenal additionally sniffing round, Todd Boehly and Co know that swift motion may maintain sway, lest the Gunners get their very own again regarding a latest switch historical past of hijacked offers.

On January deadline day, 2022, Alvarez signed for Metropolis from River Plate in Argentina for a payment within the area of £14m, proving to be a shrewd signing certainly for a participant who’s now among the many best within the Premier League.

Throughout 103 matches beneath Pep Guardiola’s administration, the dynamo has posted 36 targets and 18 assists, along with his performances incomes him reward for his unwavering consistency – pundit Owen Hargreaves has even stated that he is “by no means seen him have a nasty sport.”

Oh, after all, the accolades have are available hordes, however Alvarez has reached some extent in his profession the place he needs his giddy high quality to match the standing within the squad. Regardless of enjoying repeatedly and finishing the set beneath his Spanish boss, the £100k-per-week star yearns for a task of better significance.

His two campaigns in Larger Manchester have acted as an illustrious teething interval of kinds, however now could be the time for Alvarez to be handed a platform on the prime of the squad’s pyramid, Chelsea can supply that platform.

carney-chukwuemeka-chelsea-premier-league

His dynamism and electrifying qualities on the ball may even see him carry out as Maresca’s very personal model of Kai Havertz, who performs for the Blues no extra.

Maresca’s personal Kai Havertz

Havertz has divided opinion since arriving in England, signing for Chelsea in a £76m switch from Bayer Leverkusen 4 years in the past, scoring the Blues’ profitable purpose to win the Champions League however ending his keep at Stamford Bridge with solely 32 strikes throughout 139 matches.

Former Chelsea attacker Kai Havertz.

Making the cross-London swap to Arsenal final summer time, the German has gone from power to power and has shaped right into a coherent and efficient menace beneath Mikel Arteta, scoring 9 targets and supplying six assists over the ultimate 14 matches of the top-flight time period.

The 25-year-old’s tactical fluidity has seen him function throughout myriad positions, with the Gunners deploying him as a thrusting sort of midfielder earlier within the marketing campaign earlier than returning him to the highest of the pitch, the place he discovered his Midas contact.

With Alvarez, Chelsea may emulate this impression, for the Man Metropolis sensation has additionally performed up and down the pitch in England and has the efficiency in assault to make a marked enchancment on the facet’s offensive fluency.

And if he is aware of one factor, it is how you can make an impression. Over the previous yr, as per FBref, Alvarez ranks among the many prime 6% of positional friends throughout Europe’s prime 5 leagues for targets scored and the highest 15% for assists per 90.

Premier League 23/24: Julian Alvarez vs Kai Havertz

Stats (*per sport)

Alvarez

Havertz

Matches (begins)

36 (31)

37 (30)

Objectives

11

13

Assists

9

7

Pictures taken*

2.7

1.9

Massive probabilities missed

10

13

Touches*

45.3

37.1

Go completion

88%

81%

Massive probabilities created

7

8

Key passes*

1.9

1.2

Ball recoveries*

2.7

3.3

Dribbles accomplished*

0.6

0.4

Stats by way of Sofascore

The Argentine World Cup winner additionally affords expertise much like Havertz’s whereas proving to be extra technically crisp and artistic – a product of his studying beneath Guardiola and one thing that would see him thrive within the new Chelsea system.

Alvarez would wish to nail down an everyday position at Chelsea, as is his need as he considers leaving the world’s most imperious outfit, however he may discover that beneath Maresca.

Former Leicester manager Enzo Maresca.

With Conor Gallagher within the technique of being offered to Atletico Madrid, Alvarez may undertake the superior place behind the centre-forward – virtually a Havertz-like false 9 of kinds – bolstered by the deep-lying orchestrating of Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo’s robust tackling.

Guardiola has truly stated that he is “virtually undroppable” previously – which is relatively lofty reward from a person recognized for fixed tinkering and tweaking.

Whether or not Chelsea want to half with a hefty sum to convey Alvarez in stays to be seen, however he may very well be the proper determine to carry out on the summit of the midfield triangle and be sure that the membership rise to the fore at the beginning of a brand new, thrilling period.

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