Chelsea principally disassembled their proficient and younger defensive ranks and pieced them again along with some big-money names which have didn’t hit the bullseye for one motive or one other.
Fikayo Tomori has received the Serie A with AC Milan, Andreas Christensen left on a free switch to signal for Barcelona and Marc Guehi is flourishing with Crystal Palace within the Premier League.
That latter man is especially pertinent, for Chelsea are on the lookout for centre-backs as soon as once more and have turned their consideration to the Cobham graduate.
Chelsea trying to signal centre-back
Fabrizio Romano has revealed that Chelsea are looking the marketplace for new centre-backs and will launch a bumper bid for the aforementioned Palace’s Guehi, with the on-loan Trevoh Chalobah additionally carrying a recall clause.
Nevertheless, transfer insider Simon Phillips notes that Chelsea’s choices are usually not so restricted and that Bournemouth prodigy Dean Huijsen may very well be the person for the job, having been added to the shortlist this winter.
Huijsen is barely 19 however has handed his first half-term within the Premier League with flying colors, and may be the right profile to convey to Stamford Bridge, particularly when contemplating Wesley Fofana‘s interminable harm struggles.
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Why Dean Huijsen may very well be a Fofana improve
In July, Bournemouth signed Huijsen from Juventus in a deal rising to more than £15m, with the younger centre-back viewing the Vitality Stadium as the right zone for him to develop into his pores and skin as one in every of Europe’s most fun younger skills.
He is been immense, scoring twice within the Premier League and beginning the Cherries’ past seven matches, displaying age-belying maturity and management. He may very well be the person to switch Fofana.
Chelsea and Fofana have endured an sad marriage since he left Leicester in 2022, transferring to west London in a £75m package. Nonetheless solely 24, the Frenchman has only started 26 top-flight fixtures for Chelsea because of continuous harm issues.
It is time to act, and Huijsen have to be the signing, for he’s a long-term venture whereas additionally thriving as a core member of Andoni Iraola’s backline. He has what it takes to leapfrog the likes of Fofana underneath Maresca’s wing.
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Premier League 24/25 – Guehi vs Fofana & Huijsen |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Match Stats* |
|||
|
Matches (begins) |
19 (19) |
12 (12) |
14 (9) |
|
Targets |
2 |
0 |
2 |
|
Assists |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
Clear sheets |
4 |
1 |
4 |
|
Touches* |
66.1 |
70.9 |
52.1 |
|
Cross completion |
84% |
90% |
85% |
|
Key passes* |
0.4 |
0.4 |
0.7 |
|
Ball recoveries* |
4.3 |
4.1 |
3.0 |
|
Tackles + interceptions* |
2.2 |
2.1 |
2.4 |
|
Clearances* |
4.7 |
3.9 |
4.3 |
|
Whole duels (received)* |
5.4 (64%) |
4.8 (57%) |
3.4 (57%) |
|
Stats through Sofascore (* = per recreation) |
|||
Huijsen is not as refined as Fofana – nor Guehi – but, however at 19 he is definitely taken to the Premier League with out seam, even being hailed for his “ridiculous” technical high quality by analyst Ben Mattinson.
Additional proof: as per FBref, the Spain youth worldwide ranks among the many prime 4% of Premier League defenders this season for targets scored, the highest 1% for shot-creating actions, the highest 7% for progressive carries and the highest 12% for aerial duels received per 90.
A carry is taken into account progressive if the ball is moved in the direction of the opponent’s objective a minimum of 10 yards from its start line or is carried into the penalty space.
They are saying that the most effective skill is availability, and with Fofana lacking a lot soccer over the previous few seasons, certainly it might be value targetting a star within the making reminiscent of Huijsen, one whose athleticism and technical aptitude may very well be good for Enzo Maresca‘s expansive system.
There’s one thing particular about this child, and Chelsea want to verify they snap him up rapidly, as a result of if they do not, one other top-class suitor will, for certain.
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