Chelsea plot move to sign “the new Gyokeres”

Chelsea have began the season sturdy beneath new supervisor, Enzo Maresca, main them again into the highest 4 within the Premier League alongside a faultless UEFA Conference League marketing campaign up to now with six wins from six within the teams.

The Blues are averaging 58.3% possession per sport (2nd highest within the division), taking 15.8 shots per game (4th highest) and scoring 39 objectives in 20 video games (joint third greatest).

While the objectives have been flowing early within the season, Maresca’s facet have taken a slight dip on this division over the festive interval, being closely reliant on Cole Palmer and Nicolas Jackson for his or her objectives, resulting in a dry patch when they’re stifled.

This, alongside their struggles to interrupt down a low block, might trigger the Chelsea administrators to make a transfer within the January switch window, seeking to convey one other pure striker to the membership to supply competitors and help for Jackson.

Chelsea wanting on the ‘the brand new Gyokeres’

In line with reports from journalist Graeme Bailey, Chelsea are among the many groups plotting a transfer for Sporting ahead, Conrad Tougher. Arsenal are additionally mentioned to have an interest within the Danish striker, who would reportedly price round £42m.

The 19-year-old has been dubbed “the new Gyokeres” by analysts Rising Stars on X (beforehand Twitter), while another analyst in Ben Mattinson has additionally in contrast the 2 gamers when it comes to their construct, working energy, physicality and ball-striking qualities.

Tougher has made 22 appearances for the Portuguese outfit this season, scoring seven objectives and offering three assists.

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How Tougher compares to Nicolas Jackson

Jackson has made 20 appearances for the Blues so far in 2024/25, scoring 9 objectives, offering three assists and totalling 1,485 minutes performed, changing into an vital determine for Maresca’s facet. His high quality each on and off the ball is vital to the system, finishing up a large number of roles.

So, how does he evaluate to the Sporting man? Properly, he actually seems like a extra well-rounded profile of striker.

Conrad Tougher vs Nicolas Jackson comparability
Stats (per 90 minutes)	Tougher	Jackson
Targets	0.45	0.56
Assists	0.45	0.19
xG	0.17	0.60
xAG	0.17	0.12
Progressive Carries	2.39	2.19
Progressive Passes	1.96	1.31
Photographs Whole	4.68	3.13
Key Passes	1.52	1.06
Shot-Creating Actions	2.39	2.94
Aerial Duels Gained	2.17	0.56
Stats taken from FBref

Each Tougher and Jackson present good ranges of output, additionally serving to their group to progress play. One energy each gamers have in widespread is their skill to hold the ball for his or her group, run the channels and due to this fact have the flexibility to make one thing out of nothing, particularly in transition.

One space Tougher excels in in comparison with Jackson is aerial duels gained, successful 2.17 per 90 in comparison with simply 0.56. Regardless of being simply over 6-foot just like Jackson, who’s 6 foot 1, the Blues goal seems to supply extra field menace and aerial prowess than the Senegal worldwide, utilizing his compact physique kind to provoke contact and win duels in opposition to defenders.

Tougher is just like Jackson within the sense that he can present an entire toolset, dropping deep to hyperlink play, progressing and serving to his facet in build-up, but additionally attacking the field and offering output for the group.

Maresca would doubtless welcome this sort of participant, bringing one other striker choice to problem and doubtlessly even Jackson, while additionally providing some additional aerial menace.