According to a recent report by the Daily Star, Premier League giants Chelsea are said to have identified Porto’s Mexican international Jesus Corona as a potential target for the summer transfer window. The report suggests that the Blues have placed eyes on the speedster with a view of bringing him to Stamford Bridge in the summer and that the scouts have been keeping tabs on the forward’s exploits as well. It is further clarified that Chelsea are looking at Corona as a fall-back option to English sensation Jadon Sancho this summer.
It has been clarified that Frank Lampard still has Sancho quite highly placed on his transfer wish-list, but is said to be aware of the fact that Premier League rivals Manchester United are currently leading the race for his signature. To this end, Chelsea have identified Jesus Corona as an alternate wide option, in case their hunt for Sancho ends up being futile in the summer. The report further suggests that the Borussia Dortmund forward is rated in the region of £100m by the Bundesliga outfit.
Why Are Chelsea On The Lookout For A New Winger?
The Blues’ front-line, despite their occasional blistering performance, were in dire need of a consistent source of creativity this season. The departure of Eden Hazard last summer came as a gutting blow, and trying to replace the Belgian superstar with a 21-year-old was never going to work out as expected.
Yes, Christian Pulisic does have a good future ahead of him, but placing the expectations that Hazard used to carry onto the shoulders of the young American could’ve been a recipe for disaster. With veteran speedsters Willian and Pedro also set to depart, it’s obvious why Lampard is looking for more options in this role.
What Would Jesus Corona Add To This Chelsea Team?
The 27-year-old has been a member of the Porto squad since joining them from Dutch side FC Twente back in the summer of 2015. Having spent just under five years in the Portuguese top-flight, the Mexican has made quite the name for himself among the Porto faithful. The diminutive forward is a right-winger by position but is more than comfortable slotting into any role across the front-line. Despite not being the biggest man on the pitch at any point, Corona is adept at creating scoring opportunities for his teammates.
The diminutive Mexican is a good dribbler with the ball at his feet, while he’s even got a decent passing range under his belt. While it must be conceded that Corona isn’t necessarily the most prolific forward available to Lampard, the fact remains that he still pitches in with a good number of goal contributions. While the 27-year-old has only scored twice throughout the season, his saving grace comes in the form of ten assists over the 24 Liga NOS outings he featured.
Chelsea Have Identified Jesus Corona As Alternate Wide Option: Smart Move For Lampard?
The Blues’ search for new attackers is more than warranted, and bringing in a player of Corona’s quality and experience could pay significant dividends for Chelsea. With that said though, it must be questioned as to whether the Mexican has the physical attributes required to perform in the gritty nature of Premier League football. At 27, Corona has developed into a good player, but the fact remains that he’s never played in England before, and a risk of this magnitude is not what this Chelsea team really needs right now.
