Cole Palmer single-handedly helped Chelsea safe a European spot final season after a marketing campaign of inconsistent performances on the pitch.
Nonetheless, the 22-year-old was persistently a brilliant spark for the Blues, registering 22 Premier League goals – the second most of any participant within the division, with solely Erling Haaland scoring greater than the Englishman.
Todd Boehly spent £40m to bring the attacker to Stamford Bridge from rivals Manchester Metropolis final summer season – an absolute discount 12 months on from his transfer given his excellent kind in West London.
Together with his 11 assists, Palmer was concerned in 33 out of Chelsea’s 77 Premier League targets final marketing campaign – contributing to 43% of the efforts, a mirrored image of how essential he was throughout a dismal season for the membership.
Regardless of his massively profitable first season on the membership, he may additional enhance his tally in 2024/25 ought to new boss Enzo Maresca safe a deal for a participant beforehand on the membership’s radar.
Chelsea may land £75m expertise this summer season
In current months, Chelsea have been on the hunt to signal a brand new talisman to assist push the Blues again in the direction of the highest finish of the Premier League after lacking out on the highest 4 final season.
Numerous names have been linked with a transfer to Stamford Bridge, together with Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins – as reported earlier this month – who loved a stellar marketing campaign beneath boss Unai Emery.
The 28-year-old scored 19 times and registered 13 assists in his 37 Premier League appearances in the course of the 2023/24, serving to fireplace Villa to the Champions League for the primary time in a technology.
His subsequent kind earned him a call-up to the England nationwide facet for Euro 2024, scoring the essential objective within the semi-final victory over the Netherlands – sending the nation to their second profitable Euros ultimate beneath Gareth Southgate.
While it’s unclear how a lot he would price the Blues this summer season, lower than a yr in the past, Villa placed a £75m price tag on his head – with any deal for Watkins at round that worth a discount for a participant of his high quality.
He may show to be a less expensive and higher various to a expertise who has always been linked with a transfer to West London in the course of the summer season window.
Why Watkins could be a greater possibility than Osimhen for Chelsea
Over the previous couple of years, Napoli striker Victor Osimhen has been constantly linked with a move to Stamford Bridge, with this summer season no completely different within the membership’s pursuit for a brand new talisman.
Journalist Fabrizio Romano confirmed the Blues were still interested in a move for the Nigerian, with present Napoli boss Antonio Conte eager to signal present Chelsea man Romelu Lukaku this summer season.
Nonetheless, when evaluating his stats to Watkins’ from 2023/24, he was unable to match the Englishman in quite a few key areas for a centre-forward in Maresca’s system.
The attacker, who’s a “nightmare to play against” as described by Leicester Metropolis defender Conor Coady, registered 14 extra mixed targets or assists with a higher shot-on-target accuracy rate than the Nigerian.
|
How Watkins & Osimhen examine per 90 in 2023/24 |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Statistics |
Watkins |
Osimhen |
|
Video games performed |
37 |
25 |
|
Objectives + assists |
32 |
18 |
|
Shot-on-target accuracy |
44% |
42% |
|
Move accuracy |
75% |
67% |
|
Progressive passes |
1.5 |
1.1 |
|
Take-on success price |
41% |
40% |
|
Stats through FBref |
||
He additionally excelled to find hidden teammates, reaching an 8% higher pass completion rate and averaging 1.5 progressive passes – becoming into Maresa’s philosophy of being snug in possession.
A cross is taken into account progressive if the gap between the place to begin and the following contact is at the least 10 meters nearer to the opponent’s objective or any accomplished cross into the penalty space.
Watkins likes to play on the shoulder of the defender, making him excellent for Palmer who may enhance his tally of 11 assists ought to the England worldwide transfer to Stamford Bridge this summer season – the playmaker notably having been the person to tee up the striker in opposition to Holland.
It could be a difficult transfer for the Midlands facet to finish, however it could definitely bolster the membership’s ranks within the centre-forward place, serving to the Blues mount a cost for the highest 4 this season.
The undertaking may very well be an intriguing one for Watkins regardless of Villa’s current success, with the 28-year-old being able to kind a wonderful partnership together with his worldwide teammate and take the membership again to the highest of the English pyramid as soon as once more.
As a confirmed Premier League striker – reaching double figures for goals in all 4 of his top-flight seasons – Watkins may signify a sure-fire success for the Blues, relatively than taking of venture on a newcomer to English soccer in Osimhen.
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The Blues’ hunt for a brand new centre-forward continues…
