Maresca should lastly promote Chelsea “passenger” who was like Estevao at 18

This season is shaping up very properly for Chelsea in the mean time.

Enzo Maresca’s aspect are second within the Premier League and have the prospect to chop Arsenal’s result in simply three factors on Sunday.

Then in Europe, they despatched a warning out to the remainder of the perimeters within the Champions League with their thumping 3-0 win over Barcelona, a recreation during which Estevao shone as soon as once more.

Maresca and Co could have an opportunity to make Chelsea’s season even higher as soon as the switch window reopens in simply over a month, not simply by signing gamers, however by promoting one who as soon as appeared like Estevao when he was a teen.

Estevao’s sensational begin to life at Chelsea

The expectations positioned upon Estevao have been monumental for fairly a while now, to the purpose that revered analyst Ben Mattinson labelled him a “future Ballon d’Or winner” months earlier than Chelsea even signed him.

Since then, the hype surrounding him has solely grown, thanks largely to his advantageous kind in Brazil, the place he produced 17 objective involvements in 37 video games final season.

Even so, few would have anticipated the begin to this season he has had.

The teen is just not solely enjoying an honest variety of minutes, however he is chipping in with vital targets and has already proven a massively spectacular skill to get the followers on their toes.

To date, the 18-year-old has scored 5 targets and supplied one help for the Blues in 17 appearances, totalling 740 minutes.

That comes out to a superb common of a objective involvement each 2.83 video games, or each 123.33 minutes, which might be commendable for a seasoned veteran, not to mention a youngster.

The Franca-born wonderkid has been so efficient this 12 months that followers and pundits have truly spoken about him being a specific menace to league-leading Arsenal forward of Sunday’s recreation.

Nonetheless, whereas Chelsea ought to be delighted with their new wonderkid, additionally they must discover a approach to promote one in every of their greatest duds, who as soon as appeared like Estevao when he was first breaking by.

The Chelsea flop who must be offered

Chelsea have change into fairly good at transferring on gamers they do not need in recent times, however even then, a pair stay within the bomb squad who’re proving tough to promote, like Raheem Sterling.

The previous Manchester Metropolis star joined the membership in 2022, and whereas he is had moments for the membership during which he is appeared glorious, they’ve solely ever been that, moments.

Furthermore, whereas his tally of 19 targets and 15 assists in 81 video games is not horrible, he is by no means actually put collectively a string of spectacular performances, which is why he was allowed to hitch Arsenal on mortgage final 12 months.

Sadly, that transfer solely made the scenario worse, as he ended up scoring only a single objective and offering 5 assists in 28 video games for the Gunners, and was labelled a “passenger” by journalist Charles Watts.

Since returning to Stamford Bridge, the 30-year-old has been left to coach individually from the primary workforce, and with a weekly wage of £325k, that’s removed from best.

It’s a critical disgrace that issues haven’t labored out for the previous England worldwide, as earlier than his transfer south, he was among the best gamers within the league.

For instance, throughout his time on the Etihad, he scored 131 targets and supplied 86 assists in 339 appearances and received 4 league titles.

He was even an excellent participant for Liverpool, making his debut within the 11/12 season, however making his identify within the 13/14 season, when, like Estevao now, he was simply 18 years outdated.

In that season, the Kingston-born phenom managed to rack up an unbelievable tally of ten targets and 7 assists in 38 appearances, totalling 2535 minutes, which is a median of a objective involvement each 2.23 video games, or each 149.11 minutes.

It wasn’t simply the targets, although, as, just like the Brazilian, he was a critical menace with the ball at his toes, thanks partly to his velocity and shut management.

Finally, Sterling will go down as a legend of the Premier League, however for the sake of all events, Chelsea must promote him in January, even when they barely get something.

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