Chelsea moved again as much as fourth place within the Premier League on Monday night time with their 3-1 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers at Stamford Bridge.
The Blues at the moment are two factors forward of champions Manchester Metropolis, in fifth, and are 4 factors behind Arsenal and Nottingham Forest in second and third.
Tosin Adarabioyo, Marc Cucurella, and Noni Madueke all bought their names on the scoresheet towards Wolves, with two second-half objectives wanted after Robert Sanchez’s calamitous mistake left them drawing 1-1 on the break.
Enzo Maresca‘s aspect are combating for a spot within the Champions League for the 2025/26 marketing campaign and are effectively on monitor to attain their objective, as they sit in fourth because it stands.
Nevertheless, the previous Manchester Metropolis assistant coach might need to give his workforce the perfect probability doable to complete within the high 4 by utilising the January switch window to bolster his squad.
There are some offers, nonetheless, that the Blues, for a myriad of causes, might determine to depart till the summer season to recover from the road, together with one for a participant at present contracted to considered one of their Premier League rivals.
Chelsea eyeing deal for Serie A star
According to a report in Italy, Chelsea have enquired about the potential for a deal to signal left-back Nuno Tavares, who’s at present on mortgage at Lazio from Arsenal.
The Portuguese defender is on mortgage on the Italian workforce however they’ve an obligation to make the deal everlasting for a reported fee of around £7.5m on the finish of this season.
This newest report claims that the Blues at the moment are inquisitive about a swoop to instantly snap him up from Lazio after they formally full that obligation in the summertime, which signifies that the Serie A aspect may make an immediate revenue on him forward of the 2025/26 marketing campaign.
It reveals that Lazio are usually not at present trying to promote Tavares after they signal him completely, however provides that they’d be open to ‘unmissable’ presents for his providers.
The report additionally reveals that Chelsea’s enquiry got here throughout talks over a possible transfer to Rome for Cesare Casadei, which means that the Blues may give themselves a bonus within the race for the left-back by negotiating an inexpensive deal for the Italian midfielder.
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It provides that different, unnamed, groups have additionally been drawn to the Lazio star’s type on mortgage within the Serie A this season, which signifies that the Premier League aspect might have to maneuver shortly in the summertime to get a deal over the road for the left-footed ace.
The Blues should, now, push to get a deal completed on the finish of the season as a result of Tavares could possibly be a wonderful addition to the squad, given his type within the Italian top-flight this season.
Nuno Tavares’ type this season
It’s honest to say that his time within the Premier League didn’t go to plan the primary time round, as he solely started 18 matches within the 2021/22 and 2023/24 campaigns for Arsenal and Nottingham Forest mixed.
Tavares was solely younger, although, at 21 and 23 respectively, and will have wanted that have to develop and enhance as a participant, by studying from his errors.
His type within the Serie A for Lazio up to now this season means that he has turned a nook in his profession and is now residing as much as the potential that Arsenal seemingly noticed in him after they initially introduced him to The Emirates.
The 24-year-old star, who has been described as “unstoppable” and “one of many signings of the season” by The Athletic’s James Horncastle, has caught the attention together with his spectacular performances in Italy this time period.
|
24/25 Serie A |
Nuno Tavares |
|---|---|
|
Appearances (begins) |
16 (15) |
|
Large probabilities created |
7 |
|
Assists |
8 |
|
Dribbles accomplished per recreation |
2.1 |
|
Tackles + interceptions per recreation |
2.3 |
|
Duel success fee |
53% |
As you possibly can see within the desk above, Tavares has been an assist-machine for Lazio within the Serie A this season, with multiple help each different begin on common.
The £60k-per-week star may present Maresca with a special kind of left-back choice subsequent season, with Cucurella able to inverting into central areas, and Tavares capable of bomb down the skin on the left flank to offer a inventive menace when wanted.
Signing that kind of explosive, direct, left-back to play when the gamestate requires it will additionally supercharge present Chelsea ahead Jadon Sancho on the left flank.
Why Nuno Tavares would supercharge Jadon Sancho
The Manchester United loanee, who is because of be part of completely in the summertime, would thrive alongside an attack-minded left-back who desires to get down the skin to offer crosses and passes into the field, for a number of causes.
Firstly, Sancho is a implausible hyperlink participant who makes good choices on the ball and performs the additional move underneath strain, which may permit him to search out Tavares in house on the flank on a constant foundation.
Additionally, as you possibly can see within the clip above, the England worldwide has the potential to return infield off the left to offer a objective menace slicing in on his right-foot.
Having a left-back, like Tavares, who causes opposition defenders issues and forces them to mark him tightly may imply that there’s extra space for Sancho to float inside to create extra capturing alternatives for himself.
Cucurella has solely provided one assist and made 0.5 key passes per match throughout 20 appearances within the Premier League this season, which reveals that he doesn’t supply that form of menace within the ultimate third to assist Sancho in that respect.
Subsequently, the signing of Tavares may supercharge the Englishman’s Chelsea profession by offering him with a teammate who can profit from his passing and technical qualities, in addition to opening house for him so as to add extra objectives to his recreation.
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Chelsea returned to profitable methods within the Premier League with a deserved win over Wolves.
This is the reason the Blues should push onerous to win the race for the Portuguese defender’s signature after Lazio signal him completely on the finish of the season.
