Chelsea’s opening Premier League match is underneath three weeks away, but it doesn’t seem as if Enzo Maresca is completed along with his switch enterprise.
Regardless of including loads of expertise to his already bloated squad, together with the likes of Joao Pedro, Liam Delap and Jamie Gittens, the Italian continues to be on the hunt for extra attacking gamers.
Over the previous couple of weeks, Tyler Dibling, Karim Adeyemi and even Actual Madrid starlet Goncalo Garcia have all been linked with strikes to Stamford Bridge.
Whereas preliminary hyperlinks have been established, nothing concrete has been made relating to any of those three gamers as of but.
All of Maresca’s consideration is being taken up by the potential switch of Dutchman Xavi Simons.
The RB Leipzig starlet is edging near a transfer to the Blues, and given his performances within the Bundesliga for the reason that summer time of 2023, might he be the ultimate piece of the attacking jigsaw for the membership?
Any transfer might probably undergo sooner or later this week, however what precisely will the previous PSG sensation carry to Chelsea?
Why Chelsea are attempting to signal Xavi Simons
On Sunday, journalist Ben Jacobs gave an replace on X relating to the membership’s pursuit of the attacking midfielder.
“Chelsea advancing talks with Xavi Simons. Phrases now broadly in place,” mentioned Jacobs. “Membership-to-club talks ongoing. Chelsea anticipated to position a primary formal supply quickly after verbal discussions over numbers. Talks described as optimistic.”
If all goes to plan, Maresca could possibly be welcoming Simons to Stamford Bridge sooner moderately than later, and it’ll give him extra firepower.
The playmaker might value Chelsea a reported £70m, however on the floor, this could possibly be cash nicely spent by the London outfit.
The Blues return to the Champions League this season for the primary time since 2022/23. As such, signing somebody who could make a distinction on this competitors makes excellent sense.
Step ahead, Simons. When in comparison with his positional friends within the Champions League final season, the Dutch starlet was elegant throughout a variety of efficiency metrics.
Not solely did he rank within the prime 9% for profitable take-ons per 90 (1.88), however the 22-year-old additionally ranked within the prime 2% for shot-creating actions (5.91) and within the prime 11% for progressive carries (3.22) in Europe’s premier membership competitors.
A carry is taken into account progressive if the ball is moved in direction of the opponent’s aim at the least 10 yards from its start line or is carried into the penalty space.
With ambitions heightened forward of European competitors subsequent time period because of the membership’s success on the Membership World Cup this summer time, signing Simons would give Maresca an opportunity of taking his crew deep within the match.
On condition that João Félix appears to be shifting on within the subsequent few days, with Chelsea recouping the identical charge that they paid for him a 12 months in the past, there may be house for Simons to return in.
Regardless of his apparent strengths and his development potential, do the Blues actually need to make him a precedence signing?
Certainly, it is debatable that their defence wants extra work forward of the Premier League marketing campaign.
Chelsea closing in on one other signing
The hyperlinks to attacking gamers appear to develop day-to-day, however there haven’t been as many defenders linked with a transfer to the membership.
One participant whom the membership have proven loads of curiosity in, nonetheless, is Ajax starlet Jorrel Hato.
In line with Fabrizio Romano, the Blues “can be in direct contact” with Hato relating to a possible deal. Romano additionally went on to state that Hato “solely desires Chelsea” which ought to pave the way in which for Maresca to wrap up this deal as quickly as doable.
David Ornstein of The Athletic has additional reported that private phrases have already been agreed with Chelsea closing in on a deal which may be value round £40m.
The squad is closely stacked from an attacking perspective, however there isn’t any doubt that Chelsea wants one other couple of defenders to freshen issues up.
As such, might Hato develop into an excellent higher signing than Simons forward of the 2025/26 marketing campaign?
Why Hato could be a greater signing than Simons for Chelsea
One motive why Maresca is eager on including {the teenager} to his squad is unquestionably resulting from his positional flexibility.
Over the course of his embryonic profession to date, Hato has performed 88 video games at left-back and 70 matches as a centre-back.
|
Hato’s league numbers for Ajax by season |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Stat |
22/23 |
23/24 |
24/25 |
|
Video games performed |
11 |
33 |
31 |
|
Objectives scored |
0 |
1 |
2 |
|
Assists |
0 |
2 |
6 |
|
Touches per sport |
57.4 |
94.8 |
67.2 |
|
Correct passes per sport |
42.6 (91%) |
72.8 (93%) |
45.2 (90%) |
|
Complete duels received per sport |
3.1 |
5.5 |
4.1 |
|
Clear sheets |
1 |
5 |
11 |
|
Stats by Sofascore |
|||
Final season, nonetheless, noticed the 19-year-old function on the left aspect of the defence and he showcased his abilities, each going ahead and defensively.
Within the Eredivisie. The defender helped Ajax maintain 11 clear sheets whereas he averaged 1.9 tackles, 0.7 interceptions and was dribbled previous solely 0.3 instances per match.
Alongside along with his eight aim contributions, Hato additionally managed to create six massive possibilities within the prime flight, whereas averaging 0.6 key passes per match, thus displaying loads of attacking intent for his membership.
Moreover, when in comparison with his positional friends in leagues related in fame to the Dutch top-flight over the earlier twelve months, Hato ranked within the prime 5% for assists (0.21) per 90, together with rating within the prime 11% for touches within the opposition penalty space (2.33) per 90.
On this proof, Hato would supply lots at each ends of the pitch for Chelsea, thus giving Maresca a significant increase.
There was little doubt that the 2024/25 season was his main breakout marketing campaign for the Dutch giants, one which was largely praised by expertise scout Jacek Kulig.
“Jorrel Hato is having a superb season,” mentioned Kulig. A implausible mixture of full full-back, playmaking full-back, and ball-playing centre-back. Over 100 video games for Ajax and 6 caps for Oranje at 19. Immense high quality and expertise for such a younger defender.”
Simons will carry one thing further to the Chelsea attacking division; there isn’t any doubt about that. Nonetheless solely 22, he’ll solely go from power to power within the subsequent few years.
Hato, alternatively, might nicely develop into the higher signing for the Stamford Bridge outfit on condition that the Blues are already stacked in offensive areas.
By signing each gamers, it will sign yet one more assertion of intent by Maresca. Chelsea will certainly be a drive to be reckoned with this season if the squad can gel swiftly.
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