Chelsea set their sights on ‘one of Europe’s most in-form central defenders’

This time final week, it appeared like Chelsea could be competing with Arsenal for the Premier League title.

Sadly, a humiliating defeat away to Leeds United, adopted rapidly by a boring 1-all draw away with Bournemouth, has put any such ideas to relaxation for now.

There’s undoubtedly expertise in Enzo Maresca’s aspect, however there are areas the place they’ll enhance, resembling within the No. 9 place.

Fortuitously, Chelsea are at present linked with somebody who can do exactly that, somebody who may very well be an improve to Liam Delap.

Chelsea goal to improve Delap

With lower than a month till the switch window reopens, to nobody’s shock, Chelsea are already linked with numerous signings.

For instance, the Blues are considered one of numerous groups linked with Nottingham Forest’s Murillo.

Equally, RB Leipzig’s extremely thrilling Castello Lukuba can be being touted as a £53m transfer to Stamford Bridge.

Nonetheless, whereas the 2 defenders will undoubtedly strengthen Maresca’s workforce, not like Joaquín Panicelli, neither can and won’t change Delap or João Pedro up high.

Sure, in response to current stories from Spain, Chelsea are one of many few Premier League golf equipment within the RC Strasbourg striker.

The report reveals that, along with the West Londoners, West Ham United and Aston Villa are additionally eyeing the Argentine striker.

The report doesn’t reveal how a lot the star participant’s £28,000-a-week wage is, however provided that his contract runs till the summer season of 2030, it will not be low-cost.

Nonetheless, Chelsea ought to do every thing they’ll to signal Panichelli, even when it is dangerous information for Delap.

Comparability of Panichelli and Delap

It might sound easy, and it’s, however the first and most necessary metric to check when two strikers is output.

Sadly for Delap, that is an space the place Panichelli let him beat him, which he comfortably overcame.

To this point this season, for instance, the Argentine, described by U23 scout Antonio Mango as “one of the vital in-form strikers in Europe”, has scored 10 targets in 1,367 minutes in 19 appearances.

In different phrases, the Cordoba-born gem is concerned in a purpose on common each 1.9 video games, or each 136.7 minutes.

In stark distinction, the Blues’ summer season signing noticed him rating only one purpose in 11 video games, enjoying a complete of 453 minutes.

The following benefit the previous Deportivo Alavés star has over the Englishman is the truth that he appears to be much less liable to accidents.

For instance, he suffered a extreme ACL damage within the 23/24 season that triggered him to overlook 24 video games, however he solely missed one recreation all of final season and has solely missed one recreation up to now this 12 months.

In the meantime, the previous Ipswich City star suffered a knee damage that noticed him miss 18 video games in 2023/24.

Moreover, he has already missed 12 video games this 12 months with a hamstring difficulty and is at present coping with a shoulder damage.

Lastly, the Winchester-born ace is at present 22 years outdated, whereas the Strasbourg star solely turned 23 two months in the past, so he’s considerably youthful and subsequently does not even have the benefit of a better ceiling.

In any case, Panichelli is clearly the extra harmful ahead, and what’s extra, he additionally appears to be much less liable to accidents. Chelsea ought to subsequently do every thing they’ll to signal Delap in 2026, even when it means the tip of his time at Stamford Bridge.