Chelsea have been on a poor run of kind in latest weeks, securing simply six factors from a doable 21 factors throughout their final seven video games. This run has included losses to the likes of Ipswich City, Fulham and Manchester Metropolis, in addition to attracts in opposition to Everton, Crystal Palace and Bournemouth.
This dangerous run of outcomes has coincided with the lack of two key central defenders in December, with Wesley Fofana and Benoit Badiashile each happening injured.
Levi Colwill had been partnered by Fofana for a lot of the season main into the festive break, which noticed the Blues sitting second within the Premier League.
However Enzo Maresca’s aspect have struggled after dropping Fofana and Badiashile, who seemed to be the following in line to companion Colwill.
This might have the Blues administrators on pink alert, as this huge drop in kind has derailed their season, and a defensive resolution can be excessive on their checklist, whether or not that comes this month or in the summertime.
Chelsea Premier League defender
In accordance with reports from Fabrizio Romano, Bournemouth’s Dean Huijsen is known to have a launch clause in his contract, which can turn out to be legitimate from the summer time of 2025.
It is additional revealed that Chelsea are stated to “actually respect” Huijsen, and he’s excessive on their checklist of potential targets on the again.
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Bayern Munich have additionally requested to be told on the 19-year-old, who might face loads of competitors for the Spanish central defender come the summer time, after his wonderful begin to life within the Premier League with Bournemouth.
Huijsen has made 19 appearances since joining the Cherries this summer, scoring two targets, contributing to 5 clear sheets and totalling 1,330 minutes performed.
How Huijsen compares to Fofana
Fofana has made 12 appearances so far this season for the Blues, earlier than happening along with his newest hamstring damage, contributing to a few clear sheets and totalling 1,017 minutes performed.
The Frenchman was usually tasked with being aggressive on the opposition staff’s finest participant, trying to win duels and make issues uncomfortable for them, understanding if he was overwhelmed, he had the restoration tempo to nonetheless catch his man.
Dean Huijsen vs Wesley Fofana comparability |
||
---|---|---|
Stats (per 90 minutes) |
Huijsen |
Fofana |
Passes Tried |
54.7 |
60.8 |
Passes Accomplished |
46.5 |
54.9 |
Passing Accuracy % |
85.1% |
90.25% |
Ahead Passes |
22.4 |
18.5 |
Tackles |
1.7 |
1.2 |
Interceptions |
2.2 |
1.1 |
Blocks |
1.5 |
0.8 |
Aerial Duels Received |
2.7 |
2.1 |
Floor Duels Received |
4.7 |
5.2 |
Stats taken from Squawka |
When evaluating the 2 defenders’ metrics from this season, you’ll be able to see Huijsen is already outperforming Fofana from a defensive actions standpoint, which is a large constructive once you take into consideration the Frenchman’s position of marking the opposition’s finest attacker.
The passing metrics favour Fofana, however you’ll be able to assume a lot of that is because of play fashion, as Huijsen is usually tasked to go extra direct, as seen from his ahead passing numbers.
Huijsen was labelled as “one of the most talented teenage CBs in Europe” by scout Jacek Kulig and additional described as a “monster in the air” by Sky Sports’ Joe Tomlinson, exhibiting maturity far past his years this season for Bournemouth.
Moreover, the 6 foot 5 central defender has the body to contest in quite a lot of duels, while additionally having the composure and footballing IQ past his years to learn the sport and arrive in the suitable place on the proper time.
The 19-year-old already has all of the foundations of a superb centre-back and given time to develop, and bulk his higher physique barely to assist him in 1v1 duels in opposition to bodily strikers, he’s certain to enhance even additional, which might make him the proper companion for Colwill going forwards, a partnership that might develop collectively and complement one another in a possession-based system.
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