According to a recent report by The Telegraph, Premier League giants Chelsea are said to be targeting a winter loan move for out-of-favour Atletico Madrid star Thomas Lemar. The youngster has found life in Spain extremely difficult so far, and the Blues, along with Tottenham, are suggested to be quite keen on signing him on a short-term loan deal in the January transfer window. It has been claimed that it was Spurs who first registered interest in the youngster’s services, but that Chelsea are now ahead of them in the race.
The report suggests that the Frenchman had previously attracted substantial interest from Premier League clubs including Liverpool and Arsenal, and they had even launched bids before he chose to make to switch to La Liga. It has also been reported that the Spanish giants have told the winger that he can leave the club.
What Would Thomas Lemar Add To This Chelsea Side?
The youngster was a product of the Caen youth academy and was identified as a potential talent by the chiefs at AS Monaco in the summer of 2015. The Frenchman carried an explosive playing style that took the entire league by storm, and his attacking contributions were becoming more and more consistent. He is an adept dribbler of the ball and is more than capable of taking on any defender in the world and beating him.
While he can make those mazy runs into the box from the middle of the park, it’s his powerful running down the flanks that makes him stand out. Not afraid to stick to the touch-line, the Frenchman would unquestionably add a degree of energy and youthfulness to the Chelsea front-line. Willian is one of the players who has been overused by the Blues this season, and the fact that the Brazilian is already on the wrong side of his thirties will concern Frank Lampard’s long-term plans.
Why Chelsea Must Get Thomas Lemar On Loan In January?
The Blues have been lacking to a certain extent in the attacking department since the start of the campaign, and for all the good work that Willian and Christian Pulisic have done, the need for a top-quality back-up option remains. Callum Hudson-Odoi recently scored in the Blues’ FA Cup third-round win but hasn’t shown enough to deserve a place in the team. That’s the place that Lemar would initially have to fight for, in the hope of breaking into the first team one day.
The youngster’s movement in and around the final third make him a real goal threat, while the sheer number of attacking contributions he’s capable of notching up simply cannot be underplayed. The Frenchman can be ridiculously quick on the ball and has the skills up his sleeve to beat any player in the world on his day.
Moreover, the 24-year-old has all the right attributes to slot right into Lampard’s attack-minded system at Chelsea and do wonders for the Stamford Bridge club. A loan deal would allow Chelsea the time to assess whether signing him permanently is smart, while also providing them with a high-value attacking reinforcement.
