According to a recent report by The Daily Express, Premier League outfit Chelsea were said to be in the market for a right-back a year or so ago, and it has now been revealed that they had a €50m bid rejected for the services of Albanian international full-back Elseid Hysaj. The Napoli man has been linked with a variety of clubs over the last couple of seasons, but the most notable interest was from Stamford Bridge.
It is claimed in the report that Napoli could’ve had €50m for the defender’s signature a year and a half ago, but now risk losing him for nothing at the end of the current season. The Albanian’s contract with I Ciucciarelli is set to expire at the end of the campaign, and he seems to have clarified with the club that he wishes to leave Naples at the end of the campaign.
What Does Elseid Hysaj Add To This Napoli Side?
The Albanian international right-back is one of the many Napoli players who have been at the club for a considerable duration of time. Having joined in 2015, he immediately developed into the first-choice starter in Naples and was soon being rated as one of the best right-backs in the world. He moves the ball with confidence and has the mindfulness to effectively deal with counter-attacks as well.
He is a pacy customer who has the beating of any defender on his day. Able to deliver some mean crosses into the box, Hysaj’s top-quality final delivery is what makes him stand out from many modern European full-backs. He has the presence of mind to avoid giving away silly fouls, while the former Empoli man tends to win most headers that come his way as well.
Do The Blues Really Need Reinforcements At Right Back?
Cesar Azpilicueta has been the club’s captain and first-choice right-back for a long time now, and the fact that he is currently the longest serving player at Chelsea might come as a surprise to some fans. Although it doesn’t seem like it, Dave has been a rock at the back for the Blues for over seven years now, and his contributions to the side simply cannot be underplayed.
In the wake of a seemingly new era at Stamford Bridge, one of the most highest-rated young prodigies at Chelsea, ironically, is also a right-back. Reece James has been nothing short of a revelation whenever he’s donned the royal blue kit this season, and the youngster replacing Azpilicueta as the first-choice right-back does seem fairly inevitable. His form for Wigan last season showed Lampard what he’s capable of, and his displays at Stamford Bridge have further strengthened his case.
The Verdict
Although signing a player like Hysaj on a free transfer could be the stuff of dreams for Chelsea fans, considering just how well their kids are doing, it might be best to leave things untouched, at least in the short-term. Lampard seems to have figured out a good balance between youth and experience, and the addition of any external factors could completely disrupt the flow that the Blues have nurtured over the course of the campaign.
