It might be honest to say that Chelsea are outperforming the collective expectations concerning how their first season below Enzo Maresca would go.
The Italian coach might frequently downplay claims that the Blues are firmly within the Premier League title race, however provided that the west London aspect are second within the standings, two factors off Liverpool and 4 in entrance of Arsenal, such noise carries weight.
Chelsea have spent freely below Todd Boehly and co, however then different sides throughout the Premier League have splurged over latest years, spending with out the accuracy of the west Londoners.
It is taken some time, however it’s all coming collectively, and now Maresca appears to need a top-class centre-forward to finish his dynamic squad, even with the present choices.
Chelsea eyeing new striker
Nicolas Jackson has hit a brand new stage at Stamford Bridge this season, trying each bit the rock-and-roll top-flight famous person at quantity 9, albeit together with his flaws.
Nicolas Jackson – Premier League Stats |
||
---|---|---|
Match Stats* |
2023/24 |
2024/25 |
Matches (begins) |
35 (31) |
15 (15) |
Targets |
14 |
9 |
Assists |
5 |
3 |
Touches* |
32.6 |
27.4 |
Photographs (on course)* |
2.3 (1.2) |
2.7 (1.5) |
Massive probabilities missed |
24 |
8 |
Cross completion |
78% |
73% |
Key passes |
1.1 |
0.9 |
Dribbles* |
1.5 |
0.8 |
Tackles + interceptions* |
0.7 |
0.8 |
Whole duels (gained)* |
4.3 (42%) |
2.9 (37%) |
Stats through Sofascore |
He is curiously regressed in a number of areas, however then the one which issues, his scientific edge, denotes a exceptional level-up in goalscoring and maturity as a striker.
Chelsea’s resurgence is steeped within the success of the expansive squad, and if Maresca had been to welcome a brand new ahead to his crew, it could be clever for them to be a daily at quantity 9.
As per TEAMtalk, Chelsea might have recognized their man. The report goes that Chelsea have made contacts with Benjamin Sesko forward of a possible 2025 transfer.
With RB Leipzig already knocked out of the Champions League after a torrid group section, Sesko is likely to be on the lookout for a brand new platform to take his thrilling profession to the subsequent stage.
The 21-year-old Sesko might need rejected English golf equipment akin to Chelsea in the summertime, opting to sharpen his instruments in Germany additional, however his sights have all the time been set on a future transfer to the Premier League.
Chelsea would solely be too glad to accommodate. He would not come low-cost, with Arsenal reported to have been quoted upward of £50m for his sale.
What Benjamin Sesko would carry to Chelsea
Described as a “monster” by analyst Ben Mattinson, Sesko was a scorching prospect final season and it is no shock that he had earned curiosity from Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United, however then there’s little query that he is nonetheless received loads of work to do earlier than hitting his apex.
Standing at 6 foot 4, the Slovakian starlet is rangy and highly effective, with two-footedness, aerial dominance and technical distinction even resulting in comparisons to Manchester City’s Erling Haaland.
Certainly one of Sesko’s biggest strengths is his capability to maneuver with the instances and adapt to the system that he’s located inside. Although he is nonetheless younger, Sesko has bagged constantly throughout his 4 seasons in top-flight soccer, as you’ll be able to see through the desk under.
Benjamin Sesko – Membership Stats by Season (all comps) |
||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Season |
Membership |
Apps (begins) |
Targets |
Assists |
24/25 |
RB Leipzig |
22 (20) |
10 |
3 |
23/24 |
RB Leipzig |
42 (22) |
18 |
2 |
22/23 |
RB Salzburg |
41 (29) |
18 |
4 |
21/22 |
RB Salzburg |
37 (14) |
11 |
7 |
Stats through Transfermarkt |
As per FBref, Sesko ranks among the many high 17% of forwards throughout Europe’s high 5 leagues over the previous yr for objectives scored (0.60) per 90, with journalist Antonio Mango even hailing him as a “menace of a striker.”
Whereas he can be anticipated to jockey with Jackson for a daily beginning berth at Chelsea, Sesko would carry a differing skillset that would work properly along with the Senegalese, for he has gained 62% of his aerial duels within the Bundesliga this time period, as per Sofascore, and will form into one of many continent’s best over the approaching years.
There is not any query that he would instantaneously leapfrog the up-and-coming Marc Guiu, who bagged an emphatic hat-trick for the Londoners this week however nonetheless has a number of years of improvement forward of him.
Chelsea are storming by the Convention League group stage and Maresca has been capable of afford the majority of his first-team relaxation every fixture, such is the paltry high quality of the lowest-runged continental competitors.
Besides, it is turning out to be a hothouse for Chelsea’s children and fringe gamers, who can play recurrently and hone their craft. Guiu, 18, is actually benefitting, having joined from Barcelona for a £5m fee in the summertime.
Would Sesko’s potential arrival be to the Spaniard’s detriment? It is unclear, particularly with the Stamford Bridge aspect pushing to be concerned in a extra distinguished realm of European soccer subsequent time period. A mortgage transfer subsequent season or thereafter may very well be on the playing cards and is likely to be a basic stage of his improvement at that.
Chelsea have confirmed themselves to be cutthroat, prioritising the greatness of the entire, and that is hardly a nasty factor, for the Blues are chomping on the fruits of their ambition over the previous few dysfunctional years, lastly breaking out into the daylight and turning towards the loftiest prizes.
Guiu has solely performed as soon as within the Premier League this season, coming off the bench through the opening-day defeat by Manchester Metropolis. Sesko, in the meantime, has contributed seven goals and assists in 14 Bundesliga appearances in 24/25. The distinction stage is stark.
{The teenager}’s time will come, however Chelsea want an elite-level participant to propel Maresca’s crew additional into the ascendency, and Sesko is the right man to rival and probably even take the lead from Jackson.
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