Will Chelsea make successful of this season?
On Thursday, the Blues demolished Djurgårdens within the first leg of their Convention League semi-final, with Jadon Sancho and Noni Madueke each on course in Stockholm, earlier than Nicolas Jackson bagged a quick-fire brace.
Thus, supporters are actually fairly sure that their workforce can be in Wrocław for the ultimate later this month, going through both Actual Betis or Fiorentina.
Meantime, within the Premier League, Enzo Maresca’s aspect are at the moment fourth, determined to cling onto the ultimate Champions League spot, forward of Sunday’s heavyweight assembly with lately topped champions Liverpool at Stamford Bridge.
Even with the Membership World Cup on the horizon this summer time, Chelsea are anticipated to be busy within the switch market, as has very a lot been the case since Todd Boehly’s takeover, so may they signal a big-money new striker?
The most recent on Chelsea’s curiosity in Viktor Gyökeres
Based on a report by Florian Plettenberg of Sky Sports activities Deutschland, Arsenal are “pushing” to signal Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyökeres, valued at round £60m by the Portuguese giants, with Manchester United, Actual Madrid and Chelsea “all within the race”.
The 26-year-old Swede has scored 95 objectives in 98 appearances for Sporting, fairly spectacular statistics, with a report by David Ornstein and James McNicholas of The Athletic claiming that Gyökeres is anticipated to be on the transfer this summer time.
However, with a excessive quantity of competitors for his signature, ought to Chelsea deal with different targets?
Chelsea’s potential new striker
Based on a report from Steve Kay of Soccer Transfers earlier this week, Chelsea ‘have approached’ Aston Villa, enquiring about the potential for signing Ollie Watkins this summer time, including that the Blues ‘are keen’ to match the Villans’ £60m valuation.
TEAMtalk notes that Watkins has emerged as Chelsea’s primary goal, attributable to considerations about Victor Osimhen’s wage calls for, in addition to fears that Gyökeres would select to go elsewhere.
If Villa miss out on Champions League qualification, they could be pressured to promote key property to adjust to Revenue and Sustainability Guidelines, therefore why Pete O’Rourke of Soccer Insider believes they’d be trying to money in on 29-year-old Watkins.
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So, would Watkins be a great signing for Chelsea?
Chelsea’s greatest current attacking signings
Since Clearlake Capital’s takeover of Chelsea in 2022, they’ve signed over 40 first-team gamers, spending in extra of £1bn, a lot of whom made little impression at Stamford Bridge, a few of whom have been swiftly moved on.
Just about indisputably, the Blues’ greatest signing of the Boehly period is Cole Palmer, who, since arriving from Manchester Metropolis for £42.5m, has scored 39 objectives for the membership, named Chelsea’s Participant of the Season in addition to the PFA Younger Participant of the Yr for 2023/24.
Nonetheless, let’s analyse the impression made by among the different members of the ahead line.
Chelsea’s attacking signings (2022-present) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Gamers | Price paid | Appearances | Targets | Assists |
Pedro Neto | £54m | 40 | 6 | 7 |
João Félix | £45m | 20 | 7 | 2 |
Omari Kellyman | £19m | Zero | Zero | Zero |
Marc Guiu | £5m | 13 | 6 | Zero |
Jadon Sancho | £25m | 36 | 4 | 10 |
Cole Palmer | £42.5m | 86 | 39 | 25 |
Nicolas Jackson | £32m | 75 | 29 | 11 |
Christopher Nkunku | £50m | 56 | 17 | 5 |
Deivid Washington | £17m | 3 | Zero | Zero |
Ângelo | £13m | Zero | Zero | Zero |
Diego Moreira | Free | 1 | Zero | Zero |
Mykhailo Mudryk | £89m | 73 | 10 | 11 |
Raheem Sterling | £47.5m | 81 | 19 | 15 |
Noni Madueke | £28.5 | 82 | 20 | 9 |
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang | £10.3m | 21 | 3 | 1 |
David Datro Fofana | £11m | 4 | Zero | Zero |
All statistics and knowledge courtesy of Transfermarkt | ||||
It could be a serious understatement to say that Chelsea have signed a whole lot of attacking gamers within the final three seasons, and the desk above actually underlines that Cole Palmer has unquestionably had the largest impression.
So, why would Watkins be any completely different?
Effectively, let’s assess his season statistics to search out out.
Ollie Watkins Premier League 2024/25 statistics | ||
|---|---|---|
Statistics | Watkins | PL rank |
Targets | 15 | seventh |
Targets per 90 | 0.6 | sixth |
Assists | 7 | thirteenth |
Pictures | 76 | eleventh |
Pictures on course | 32 | eighth |
Anticipated objectives | 14.5 | sixth |
Aim-creating actions | 11 | thirty first |
Touches in oppo penalty space | 153 | 11 |
All statistics courtesy of FBref.com | ||
Because the desk outlines, Watkins is a really well-rounded striker, described by Statman Dave as “scientific”, each a potent goalscorer but additionally an opportunity creator too.
The priority about signing him could be the actual fact he’s 29 years outdated, however the Englishman is displaying no indicators of slowing down, so might be the striker Chelsea require to go to the subsequent stage.
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Higher than Jackson: Chelsea need £25m “beast” who’s outscoring Osimhen
Chelsea have wasted no time in concentrating on new forwards to strengthen Enzo Maresca’s aspect this summer time.
