Maresca must upgrade on “complete” Chelsea man

One place that’s key in Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea system, is the wingers, pinning fullbacks excessive and huge, trying to present the staff with output and being remoted in 1v1 eventualities as typically as potential.

Nevertheless, the Italian has misplaced his best huge choice to damage, Noni Madueke, who has netted eight instances this season, additionally offering 4 assists and totalling 1,653 minutes performed.

This leaves Maresca with simply Pedro Neto and Jadon Sancho as his senior huge choices, because the Blues additionally misplaced one other winger attributable to suspension again in December final yr.

Mykhailo Mudryk’s time at Chelsea

Chelsea introduced in December 2024, that Ukrainian winger, Mykhailo Mudryk had been provisionally suspended by the FA after testing constructive for a banned substance.

This got here after making 15 appearances for the Blues this season, scoring three objectives, offering 5 assists and totalling 849 minutes performed.

While a big majority of Mudryk’s minutes got here within the UEFA Convention League (523 minutes), shedding the 24-year-old has nonetheless affected Maresca’s squad, as they’re now left with simply two pure senior wingers after Madueke’s damage.

The Blues signed Mudryk in January 2023, with an preliminary charge of round £62m with as much as an extra £27m in bonuses. The Ukrainian is now valued at €38.5m (£31.8m) in line with Soccer Transfers, however that’s nonetheless greater than a sure different Chelsea man…

The Chelsea star who’s now price lower than Mudryk

Reece James was as soon as valued as excessive as £57.4m in line with FootballTtransfers, however over the previous few seasons, his worth has taken an actual hit, following loads of damage troubles which have stored him off the pitch for extended spells.

The Chelsea captain has managed to make ten appearances for the membership this season, scoring one objective, offering one help, contributing to 1 clear sheet and totalling 556 minutes performed.

The 25-year-old has suffered from reoccurring hamstring issues since 2020, lacking a complete of 131 video games since 2019/20, when James was first launched to the first-team below Frank Lampard.

When James is totally match, there isn’t a doubt about his high quality, with Kyle Walker even labelling him the “full” participant and revealing why he believes James is the very best right-back on this planet.

Nevertheless, having solely made 168 appearances for the membership, scoring 12 objectives, offering 23 assists and totalling 11,503 minutes, his availability will all the time stay a priority.

James is now valued at €37.4m (£30.9m) in line with Soccer Transfers, which suggests he is not seen as one in all Chelsea’s high ten most dear gamers, regardless of being the highest-paid participant on the membership, in addition to being the membership captain.

With Chelsea’s new wage construction aiming to pay gamers primarily based on their worth to the aspect, James might come into account if his damage troubles proceed, as as to if the Blues must focus their assets elsewhere.

That probably would not go down nicely with Chelsea followers, as James is likely one of the solely academy graduates remaining to have efficiently come by the system and change into a completely fledged first-teamer – but if his damage woes stay, an improve could also be wanted.