According to a recent report by The Guardian, Frank Lampard’s overachieving Chelsea side are said to be eyeing up a move for Villarreal’s Nigerian international attacker Samuel Chukwueze. The Blues have been in the market for a flurry of attacking options, but the little known fact is that Chukwueze is undoubtedly the most exciting of all the names, despite the presence of players like Jadon Sancho and Fyodor Chalov in that list.
The Blues are to be watching the youngster’s progress at the La Liga club and have been keeping tabs on his contract situation as well. He would offer an explosive option on the flank for Frank Lampard and would come at a considerably lesser price than the rest of the names being linked to Stamford Bridge. While Wilfried Zaha was claimed to be the Blues’ prime target, doubts over whether he’s worth the money have carried them back to square one.
What Would Chelsea Be Getting By Signing Samuel Chukwueze?
Born in 1999, the 20-year-old has been a sensation at Villarreal since joining from a Nigerian club in the summer of 2017. His development into the first-team was rapid, and despite the plethora of attacking talent that the Spanish club possesses, the youngster was quick to make a name for himself. He is a tricky winger who shows explosive pace as well as acceleration.
Similar to Chelsea’s Brazilian star Willian in his playing style, the Nigerian international would add a further degree of dynamism and youthfulness to the Chelsea attack. He’s featured in 18 league fixtures this season and has picked up a decent return of three goals and three assists.
Despite being just 20, the La Liga star already notched up 12 international caps and scored two goals along the way as well. His dribbling skills make him a combustible threat in the final third, and the youngster is undoubtedly the kind of player Lampard will be hoping to sign.
Why Chelsea Must Sign Chukwueze At The Earliest
In Christian Pulisic and Willian, the Blues seemed to have found the perfect winger options. However, as the season has gone on, neither of them has been able to deliver consistently. While the latter’s rising age could have a say in things, the American’s contributions just seem to have dried up. Also, Callum Hudson-Odoi’s inexperience makes him a questionable first-team option, at least for the time being.
Chelsea have found themselves struggling for goals and imagination up-front at times this season, and signing a player of the Nigerian’s calibre would be a quick fix to the problem. The intensity and directness that he would add to the Chelsea team could do wonders for Frank Lampard, and they, in turn, could go on to achieve big things. For all the names that can currently be heard resonating around Stamford Bridge, it’s signing the little Nigerian from Villarreal that the Blues should prioritise.
