Chelsea are inquiring about the signing of a star who could be Maresca’s own Kvaratskhelia
Chelsea they have yet to sign anyone during the current January transfer window Enzo Maresca is desperate to strengthen his squad ahead of the second leg of the campaign.
His first season with the Blues may have gone better than expected. At the time of writing, the club is fifth in the standings Premier League table to the knockout stage of the European Conference League, while last weekend they secured a place in the fourth round of the FA Cup.
All in all, the start was not bad. However, qualifying for the Champions League will be his priority, and that means there could be a few new signings before the transfer window closes in a few weeks.
Manchester United winger Alejandro Garnacho appeared as a shock target, while according to Sky in Germany (via Sky Sports), Chelsea have contacted Bayern Munich to inquire about the availability of Mathys Tel, but it looks like he wants to stay and fight for his place in the Bavarian side.
Tel isn’t the only player Maresca is eyeing from Germany, as Borussia Dortmund’s current talent has recently caught the eye, which could lead to the Stamford Bridge side making a move this month.
Chelsea are preparing an attack on the Borussia Dortmund starlet
Garnacho was mentioned by Sky Sports News as one target Chelsea had in mind this month, but another named player could be a far better option.
Jamie Gittens is also wanted by the Blues, according to the same report, as it looks like Maresca will look to bolster his attacking options, despite already having a wealth of talent to choose from.
According to Athletico, Chelsea started the talks regarding a move for Gittens before the window closes, but they are only in the early stages, with an inquiry already made.
There’s no word on how much the transfer fee might cost to bring the 20-year-old to London, but given his market value, according to Transfermarkt, is 50 million euros (£42m), plus a contract until 2028, could cost a fortune.
If they could secure his signature, the club would be signing one of the best young talents in Europe, no doubt about that.
Statistics of Jamie Gitten at Borussia Dortmund
Dortmund has proven to be a wonderful place for English youngsters to go and develop away from the pressures of life in the Premier League.
Jadon Sancho and Jude Bellingham are two of the best examples. Both players have shone at Signal Iduna Park during their respective spells, securing moves to Manchester United and Real Madrid.
Gittens is the club’s next big thing. He debuted during the 2021/22 season. at only 18 years old, and it soon became clear that the club has a natural successor in its midst, Sancho.
Over the previous two and a half years, Gittens had played 80 times for the club, registering contributions with 30 goals – 16 goals and 14 assists – to become one of their valued assets.
He knows how to perform on the biggest stages, especially in the Champions League. In the competition of this term, Omladinac has scored four timesgrabbed an assist, created two big chances and managed 2.3 dribbles per game. It is no wonder that Dortmund have a wonderful chance of finishing in the top eight, which ensures progress to the last 16.
Last year, an analyst heaped much praise on his abilities, saying: “Kobbie Mainoo, Xavi Simons and Musiala are all deservedly praised because they are top players. However, just wait until Jamie Bynoe-Gittens starts playing week in week out.
“He is unique. It’s only a matter of time before he too achieves superstar status.”
He may not be at superstar status just yet, but if a move to Chelsea materializes in the coming weeks, the platform could see the winger take his game to the next level.
Jamie Gittens’ statistics this season for Borussia Dortmund |
||
---|---|---|
Metric |
Champions League |
Bundesliga |
Objectives |
4 |
7 |
Assists |
1 |
3 |
Great chances were created |
2 |
5 |
Successful dribbles per match |
2.3 |
3.1 |
Key passes per match |
1 |
0.8 |
Not only that, but Gittens is also a similar type of player to the former Chelsea transfer target who just secured a move to Paris Saint-Germain during the current window.
They were blue wants to sign Khvich Kvaratskhelia this month before PSG stepped in, but in Gittens they have someone eerily similar in style of play.
Jamie Gittens could be Maresca’s very own Khvicha Kvaratskhelia
Missing out on the Georgia winger is a blow, but Maresca shouldn’t be too concerned, considering the move for Gittens could cost a bit less.
According to FBref, the former Napoli player is currently the third largest a comparable player to Gittens in terms of playing style and statistical profiles, which could provide Chelsea with exceptional talent.
Both players are right-footed by nature, but tend to operate on the left flank, regularly coming inside and scoring most of their goals.
There are a couple registered similar statistics in a range of metrics this season, including goals and assists (ten vs. eight), shots on goal per 90 (1.18 vs. 1.22), shot-creating actions (42 vs. 57), touches in the penalty box (77 vs. 74 ) and carries into the opponent’s penalty area (43 against 37) for their teams.
These stats show how effective the pair are when it comes to creating chances for their teammates, while both like to get the ball into the penalty area as often as possible, using their excellent dribbling skills.
Gittens still has plenty to do over the next few years, but his time at Dortmund has allowed him to showcase his talents on a regular basis.
He was bound to attract attention sooner rather than later given his performances for the German side over the past few years, and it looks like he won’t be able to keep him around for long.
If Chelsea are serious about signing him, they would be best off trying to get a deal over the line as the Englishman will have plenty of other suitors, given his impressive form in Germany this term.
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So it is now up to the board to ensure they do everything in their power to win the race for his signature before the end of the January transfer window.