Mauricio Pochettino‘s mutually agreed departure from Chelsea final month might need break up opinion amongst supporters however the imminent appointment of Enzo Maresca hints towards an thrilling future.
The Blues loved a second-half-of-season resurgence to rise from midtable and end sixth within the Premier League, nevertheless, Manchester United’s FA Cup closing overcome Manchester Metropolis consigned the Stamford Bridge facet to Europa Convention League soccer.
Anticipate a summer season rife with exercise, for loads of gamers should be bought and many extra have been touted for a transfer to west London, with Todd Boehly lining up an thrilling new title.
Chelsea switch information
According to Spanish reports, Chelsea are ready to pay loopy cash – in extra of €100m (£86m) – to signal Ousmane Dembele from Paris Saint-Germain, only one yr after the Ligue 1 champions signed him from Barcelona for around £43.5m.
PSG have misplaced their prized performer Kylian Mbappe to Actual Madrid this summer season and Luis Enrique’s crew are understood to be in the market for brand spanking new forwards, which might see Dembele bought too if the aforementioned determine is met.
Dembele, a proper winger, is seen as a participant able to main Maresca’s challenge, and whereas he would price a reasonably penny, he would possibly simply be the right participant so as to add to and enhance on the Stamford Bridge first crew.
Why Ousmane Dembele would succeed at Chelsea
Chelsea need a right-sided attacker, with Crystal Palace phenomenon Michael Olise on the top of the list and even showing to favour a transfer to west London over a switch to Outdated Trafford, but it surely’s sensible that Paul Winstanley and Co have recognized potential alternate options.
Dembele would possibly simply show to be the cream of that crop, along with his six goals and 14 assists from simply 33 begins for PSG underscoring the worth that he might carry to Maresca’s system.
Whereas it is true that the 43-cap international has not loved his best soccer within the French capital, he had produced some breathtaking moments in Catalonia for Barcelona and started six matches on the 2022 World Cup, having beforehand featured throughout Les Bleus’ world triumph of 2018, in France.
In Spain, Dembele scored 40 goals and supplied 43 assists throughout 185 matches, and whereas health points stifled his progress considerably, he has showcased his expertise on the most important stage.
Certainly, Dembele provides expertise and on-pitch product that would carry Chelsea’s first crew however he additionally provides an abundance of trophy-winning success to offer Maresca’s youthful crew with the stability it must merge thrilling performances with silver-shining success.
As per FBref, Dembele ranks among the many prime 9% of attacking midfielders and wingers throughout Europe’s prime 5 leagues over the previous yr for assists, the highest 2% for shot-creating actions, the highest 5% for passes tried and progressive passes, the highest 1% for progressive carries and the highest 7% for profitable take-ons per 90.
|
Chelsea: Most Assists 23/24 |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Rank |
Participant |
Video games |
Assists |
|
1. |
Cole Palmer |
45 |
15 |
|
2. |
Conor Gallagher |
50 |
9 |
|
2. |
Malo Gusto |
37 |
9 |
|
4. |
Raheem Sterling |
43 |
8 |
|
5. |
Nicolas Jackson |
44 |
6 |
|
Stats by way of BBC Sport |
|||
His playmaking potential would provide the Blues one thing considerably missing. Cole Palmer‘s absurd breakout season at Chelsea noticed him plunder 25 goals and 15 assists in all competitions however creativity has been comparatively sparse elsewhere, with Conor Gallagher’s second-most tally of 9 assists spectacular, however the box-to-box midfielder is being closely touted with a transfer away.
Dembele would possibly lack a goalscoring menace however his high quality as a provider is definitely simply what Maresca’s squad wants, along with his tempo and bodily strengths excellent to stretch traces and create area for friends – resembling Palmer – to revenue from.
Furthermore, the France worldwide has been dubbed a “world-class talent” previously by expertise scout Jacek Kulig, having loved a wealthy and trophy-laden profession each domestically and along with his French nation.
The £331k-per-week star just isn’t majorly much like Olise in regard to taking part in model however he does provide aptitude and creativity that may make him an exquisite different.
Olise, one of many Premier League’s most coveted gamers, endured an injury-hit 2023/24 marketing campaign however nonetheless managed to cement himself as one of many standouts, with Kulig even describing him as “one of the best wide playmakers in Europe” after his exploits, clinching ten goals and six assists from simply 14 begins within the top-flight and spearheading Palace’s resurgence beneath Oliver Glasner.
|
Michael Olise vs Ousmane Dembele 23/24: Stat Comparability |
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|---|---|---|
|
Statistic |
||
|
Matches performed |
19 |
26 |
|
Matches began |
14 |
17 |
|
Objectives |
10 |
3 |
|
Assists |
6 |
8 |
|
Massive possibilities created |
9 |
10 |
|
Key passes per recreation |
1.9 |
2.3 |
|
Dribbles per recreation |
2.1 |
2.5 |
|
Tackles per recreation |
5.7 |
4.4 |
|
All stats by way of Sofascore |
||
With a centre-forward on the agenda at Stamford Bridge and the aforementioned Palmer completely breathtaking in his goalscoring prowess, Dembele would possibly simply be the right participant to enhance the frontline, proving to have the ball-carrying and playmaking expertise to rival that of Olise.
Wanting on the desk above, it may be famous that each gamers possess distinctive playmaking qualities and are each lethal in driving the ball ahead, with Dembele’s electric-paced model truly inserting him above Olise.
Evaluate this with Madueke, for instance, who averaged 1.6 dribbles per game within the Premier League this season, and the magnitude of getting such a participant on the suitable flank is illuminated. Chelsea have to safe this profile earlier than the beginning of the forthcoming season so as to add that important closing dimension to the broad positions – particularly when contemplating the return to continental competitors.
Olise is likely to be the first-choice goal, however earmarking the Frenchman as a fallback will surely not be a foul thought.
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