According to Plaza Deportiva, Chelsea have been rebuffed in their attempts to sign Goncalo Guedes. It is believed that the Blues had tabled a staggering €70 million bid for the Portuguese sensation. But, that offer was rejected by Valencia, who are reluctant to let go of their prized asset this summer.
Guedes’ disappointing season at Valencia
After failing to make an impression in the PSG first-team, Guedes joined Valencia permanently for a fee of €40 million last summer. But, his return to Mestalla hasn’t been a sweet one as the Portuguese international has struggled with injuries and lack of game-time for the most of the season.
Indeed, the 22-year-old made only 25 appearances, which adds up to just 1,468 minutes of league football. His overall game-time was drastically minimised due to a groin injury back in December that kept him out for almost two months. He did, however, score five goals and provided two assists since returning from injury in mid-February.
Overall, Guedes was involved in eight league goals, which is considerably fewer than what he managed in his debut campaign at the Mestalla (16 goals).
What can Guedes bring to the table?
Guedes is an excellent runner with the ball as he often looks to attack the opposition whenever he receives possession. He is blessed with an electric pace that makes him a genuine threat on the counter. He is also technically astute, thus enabling him to play quick one-twos with teammates in the final third.
The 22-year-old is really skilful on the ball, and his nimble footwork allows him to drift past defenders quite easily. He notably averaged a whopping 2.5 successful dribbles per game with Valencia during the 2017/18 campaign.
But, what makes him such a sought-after attacker in Europe is his versatility. Guedes can play anywhere across frontline, including the role of a secondary striker. And that makes it easier for managers to accomodate him in their respective offensive units.
Should Chelsea persist their interest in Guedes?
After losing Eden Hazard to Real Madrid this summer, Chelsea will be keen to secure a long-term replacement. Guedes, in that regard, seems like an ideal choice given the talent he possesses at such a young age. He is also quite versatile and can create chances in the final third.
However, Chelsea obviously won’t be able to sign Guedes this summer due to their impending transfer ban. But, the Blues should definitely look to work out some sort of loan deal, which could make sense as Valencia are unwilling to sell two of their main attackers this summer amid reports linking Rodrigo Moreno to a move away from Mestalla.
Stat courtesy: Whoscored
