Chelsea didn’t make any main splashes within the January switch window, which formally slammed shut initially of final week, as they solely made one signing.
The Blues swooped to herald 19-year-old central midfielder Mathis Amougou from Ligue 1 aspect Saint-Etienne, and he’ll now look to compete with the likes of Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo for a spot within the beginning line-up.
He was an unused substitute, nevertheless, within the 2-1 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion within the FA Cup on Saturday, which ended the membership’s probability of home silverware this time period.
Enzo Maresca can nonetheless get pleasure from a profitable first season in command of Chelsea, although, as his crew are within the battle to complete within the high 4 within the Premier League and are within the knockout stage of the Convention League.
The London giants, nevertheless, could have one eye on subsequent season and the way they will enhance the crew in the summertime switch window to compete on all fronts for trophies within the 2025/26 marketing campaign.
In actual fact, the Blues are already reportedly eyeing up a number of gamers who might are available to enhance the Italian head coach’s defensive set-up.
Chelsea’s curiosity in Premier League defender
According to the Si Phillips Talks Chelsea substack, the Blues are lining up a possible transfer to signal Everton central defender Jarrad Branthwaite in the summertime switch window.
The report claims that the England worldwide is without doubt one of the centre-backs on Maresca’s radar forward of the 2025/26 marketing campaign, as they appear to bolster their choices on the again.
Simon Phillips provides that Wesley Fofana is vulnerable to accidents and that the membership are involved about his health report transferring ahead, which is without doubt one of the explanation why they’re gamers in that place forward of the summer time.
He additionally reveals that there have been some ‘whispers’ that the Premier League aspect could be keen to take heed to gives for Tosin Adarabioyo, who solely joined the Blues on a free switch from Fulham final yr.
The reporter states that there are query marks over Benoit Badiashile, Trevoh Chalobah, and Axel Disasi, who has joined Aston Villa on mortgage, with reference as to if or not they are going to be offered in the summertime window.
Phillips’ article then reveals that Everton’s Branthwaite and Manchester United centre-back Leny Yoro, who solely joined the Pink Devils from Lille final summer time, are each amongst Chelsea’s targets in that position.
In December, The Boot Room claimed that Manchester Metropolis and Manchester United are additionally all in favour of Branthwaite and revealed that the Toffees worth the left-footed colossus at a whopping £80m, though it stays to be seen whether or not or not the Blues are keen to pay that form of price for him.
Maresca, although, might enhance his crew by pushing for the membership to land the £80m-rated defender, as he might are available as an improve on Levi Colwill.
Levi Colwill’s struggles this season
Chelsea have conceded 31 goals in 24 matches within the Premier League this season – probably the most within the present high 4 – and Colwill’s struggles on the again have contributed to that.
The England worldwide has made two errors which have immediately led to photographs and one error that immediately led to a aim for the opposition, in addition to making a gift of one penalty, within the top-flight this time period.
His most up-to-date blunder got here within the conflict with West Ham United on deadline day. The centre-back performed a blind go that despatched Jarrod Bowen via on aim to attain.
Per FBref, Colwill ranks inside the bottom 35% of centre-backs within the Premier League for errors made per 90 (0.14), which exhibits that he has been too vulnerable to a blunder for the Blues.
|
24/25 Premier League |
Levi Colwill |
|---|---|
|
Appearances |
22 |
|
Cross accuracy |
90% |
|
Tackles + interceptions per sport |
2.3 |
|
Dribbled previous |
7x |
|
Duel success charge |
57% |
As you possibly can see within the desk above, Colwill has additionally been dribbled previous now and again within the division this season, however has additionally made a number of defensive interventions per sport and gained the vast majority of his duels.
This exhibits that he’s not a horrible participant who’s with out redeeming qualities. Nonetheless, the errors are a priority, and costing Chelsea, which is why Branthwaite might arrive as a giant improve on his fellow England worldwide.
Why Chelsea ought to signal Jarrad Branthwaite
Maresca ought to push for the board to splash £80m on the Everton defender as a result of his kind over the previous 18 months or so within the Premier League means that he has the standard to be a terrific addition to the squad.
Branthwaite, who was as soon as described as a “monster” by expertise scout Jacek Kulig, has made 16 appearances within the top-flight this season and helped his crew to maintain seven clear sheets, while successful a whopping 78% of his ground duels.
The English titan is a dominant defender who can get the higher of his opponents far most of the time, with the next success charge in floor duels than Colwill, who has won 55% of his this time period.
Alongside his spectacular performances within the top-flight within the 2024/25 marketing campaign, Branthwaite additionally excelled beneath Sean Dyche within the Premier League final season.
|
23/24 Premier League |
|
|---|---|
|
Appearances |
35 |
|
Clear sheets |
12 |
|
Tackles + interceptions per sport |
3.3 |
|
Error led to aim |
0 |
|
Floor duel success charge |
67% |
|
Aerial duel success charge |
68% |
|
Stats by way of Sofascore |
|
As you possibly can see within the desk above, the 22-year-old brute didn’t make a single error that immediately led to a aim for the opposition in 35 matches within the top-flight.
The left-footed titan additionally gained the overwhelming majority of his duels on the bottom and within the air, which isn’t one thing that Colwill has been in a position to boast this season.
These statistics counsel that the potential is there for Branthwaite to return in as an enormous improve on the present Chelsea left-sided centre-back, by successful the next share of his duels to chop out opposition assaults and by not making as many massive errors on the again.
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