Each Chelsea fan will likely be loving life on the minute, with boss Enzo Maresca working wonders throughout his first few months at Stamford Bridge.
The Italian has guided the Blues to second place after the primary 14 matches of the marketing campaign, sitting simply seven factors off leaders Liverpool after their spectacular current run of type.
His aspect are unbeaten in seven Premier League matches, claiming an enormous 5-1 victory towards relegation strugglers Southampton on Wednesday night time.
Maresca has carried out a stupendous attacking system that has led to 31 objectives up to now this season – probably the most of any aspect at present in England’s top-flight.
Nonetheless, he may very well be about so as to add additional firepower to his attacking division, probably catapulting the membership into an sudden title cost within the closing months of 2024/25.
Chelsea concentrating on January transfer for £67m star
In response to CaughtOffside, Chelsea are concentrating on a deal for a brand new striker within the January window, with a plethora of names put into the combo over a possible transfer to West London.
Nonetheless, one participant they look like thinking about is Juventus talisman Dušan Vlahović, after the Serbian’s glorious begin to the marketing campaign which has seen him notch 9 objectives in his first 16 appearances in all competitions.
They would face competitors from Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal aspect, with the Spaniard additionally seeking to clear up their downside place to spice up their very own title ambitions.
Any deal for the 24-year-old could be an costly one, with the report claiming that it could take a price within the area of €75m (£67m) for the Italian giants to half with their star attacker.
While on the face of it, it might be one other large sum for Todd Boehly to fork out, any deal for the towering ace could be properly well worth the price ticket, particularly given his comparability to certainly one of Europe’s main strikers in current instances.
Why Vlahovic could be Chelsea’s personal Haaland
Manchester Metropolis striker Erling Haaland has been a dominant drive in recent times, offering a relentless supply of objectives for Pep Guardiola’s males within the league and Europe.
The Norwegian has registered 107 objectives in his 118 appearances for the Residents, serving to them lastly finish their look ahead to a Champions League title again in 2022/23.
Haaland has additionally smashed all of the English data, scoring 36 instances in the identical season, writing his title into historical past, and changing into the holder of the most objectives scored in a single 38-game marketing campaign.
Nonetheless, after Vlahovic’s personal spectacular begin to 2024/25, he’s been deemed as an analogous participant to the Metropolis star by FBref – an enormous assertion given the type of the previous Borussia Dortmund talisman.
When delving into their respective figures from the continued season, the Serbian has matched or bettered Haaland in quite a few key areas, resulting in Italian legend Christian Vieri beforehand labelling him as “among the finest younger skills on this planet”.
The “phenomenal” Juve attacker, as dubbed by journalist Ollie Spencer, might have registered fewer mixed objectives and assists, however has proven his capability to be that point of interest the Blues have been craving for the reason that summer season, profitable extra of his aerial duels.
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How Dušan Vlahović compares to Erling Haaland in 2024/25 |
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|---|---|---|
|
Statistics (per 90) |
Vlahovic |
Haaland |
|
Video games performed |
12 |
14 |
|
Objectives & assists |
6 |
13 |
|
Progressive passes |
0.8 |
0.6 |
|
Progressive carries |
0.7 |
0.6 |
|
Go completion charge |
70% |
69% |
|
Aerials received |
1.4 |
1.1 |
|
Aerials success charge |
47% |
42% |
|
Stats by way of FBref |
||
He’s additionally accomplished extra progressive carries and progressive passes per 90, providing an all-round possibility that might enable the likes of Cole Palmer and Noni Madueke to proceed to bolster their very own goalscoring tallies together with his service and hold-up play.
A carry is taken into account progressive if the ball is moved in direction of the opponent’s purpose at the least 10 yards from its start line or is carried into the penalty space.
While, on the face of it, any deal for Vlahovic could be one other large funding, he could be an possibility that might remodel Maresca’s choices within the ultimate third.
Nobody might’ve predicted the Blues’ mega begin to the league season, with any deal for the ahead solely enhancing their probabilities of both reaching the highest 4 or doing the unthinkable and claiming title glory.
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Chelsea must promote their £64m downside who Boehly dubbed “world-class”
Chelsea should promote an issue participant who was as soon as described as “world-class” by the membership’s proprietor.
