Chelsea make “world-class” £55m star their top target

Chelsea began their Membership World marketing campaign with a 2-0 victory over LAFC, however it was removed from essentially the most entertaining watch from a Blues perspective.

The restricted numbers contained in the Mercedes-Benz Stadium doubtless did not assist the drab pre-season really feel of the fixture, but sure performances would have nonetheless anxious the choose few Chelsea supporters watching on regardless, with Noni Madueke noticeably struggling down the left wing.

Enzo Maresca desperately wants extra reinforcements down the left channel, due to this fact, and switch rumours consistently popping out from Stamford Bridge appear to point that recent blood will quickly be bought.

Chelsea nonetheless have “world-class” star as prime precedence

As per an replace by Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg on social media, Chelsea nonetheless holds successful the companies of Borussia Dortmund winger Jamie Gittens as a serious precedence this summer season, however they must pay £55m.

An settlement has been sealed on the participant aspect, based on Fabrizio Romano, however the extra time goes on, the extra Blues supporters might be anxious {that a} deal to win Gittens may sadly fall flat.

Certainly, different targets at the moment are being wanted on the left, with an enquiry lodged to snap up rising Lyon star Malick Fofana as a option to bolster much more.

Nonetheless, while Fofana is little doubt being checked out as one for the longer term, Chelsea might be overwhelmed with pleasure as to what the Dortmund attacker may very well be able to on his anticipated arrival in West London, with Gittens having already been dubbed “world-class” by Sky Sports activities’ Dougie Critchley.

How Gittens might be Chelsea’s subsequent Hazard

Bursting with vitality and an electrical dribbler, the younger Englishman would possibly effectively turn into Chelsea’s subsequent Eden Hazard if every part goes to plan.

Hazard was solely a 12 months older than Gittens when making his Blues debut again in 2012, having additionally been hotly tipped for greatness on the books of Lille. Now, the much-loved Belgian is seen as a modern-day icon at Stamford Bridge.

Maresca might be aiming to revive Chelsea to their previous glories when Hazard was routinely galloping down the left channel, with two Premier League titles and a Champions League trophy heading the Blues’ manner when the slick 5-foot-9 attacker was acting at his peak.

Including Gittens may effectively be an enormous step ahead in permitting Chelsea to compete for top-flight honours as soon as extra, along with his general numbers within the Bundesliga lagging behind Hazard’s have been when he was about to depart France behind for a brand new problem in England.

Hazard was considerably in a league of his personal in the direction of the top of his Lille keep, with a outstanding 38 targets and assists picked up throughout his remaining season in France.

However, Gittens has proven flashes of his apparent excellence at Dortmund to be seen as a possible subsequent iteration of the celebrated Belgian, notably rating inside the prime 1% of wingers in Europe’s prime 5 leagues for profitable take-ons per 90 minutes, showcasing he is among the best dribblers round, identical to Hazard.

12 of his 17 Black and Yellow strikes got here in 2024/25, and it included 4 being hammered residence within the esteemed Champions League.

Hazard was equally a reliable performer on the large event for Chelsea, with ten strikes subsequent to his title in Europe’s elite competitors.

The similarities do not finish there, nonetheless, with the previous Manchester Metropolis youth product additionally able to performing as an attacking midfielder or a proper winger if wanted.

Hazard’s fundamental explosiveness for the Blues did primarily come down the left, however a surprisingly giant portion of his targets in London did really come from the quantity ten spot, as seen in 21 of his 110 targets for Chelsea coming from this extra central place.

With a lot hype subsequent to his title – with Critchley additional lauding the 20-year-old as “England’s finest LW” at present – the fear would possibly effectively be that Gittens flounders below the depth of his new highlight.

But, Hazard had much more fanfare surrounding his title when he took the soar from Ligue 1 to the Premier League, with Dortmund’s standout star now determined to comply with in his revered footsteps.