Chelsea fans would be excited looking forward to the new season with new players coming in after the lifting of their transfer ban. They have already made a deal to bring in Hakim Ziyech from Ajax with the Moroccan joining this summer. However, their search for new players to bolster their attacking options have not ended with the London side trying to rope in another forward.
ESPN now reports that Chelsea would try to get the likes of Moussa Dembele, Timo Werner or Aubameyang into their squad before the transfer window shuts down. While there are multiple suitors for all the three players, here we take a look at how Dembele would suit the Premier League side.
What would Dembele bring to Chelsea?
The Lyon forward can be best described as a target man for the side with manager Rudi Garcia rotating between Depay and Dembele to lead the team’s attack. Although the French forward has proved himself to be the better of the two, the gaffer has given multiple opportunities to the Dutchman to keep him interested as well.
This term Dembele has played in 27 Ligue 1 matches scoring 16 times and creating two assists. The biggest trait of the forward is his understanding of the game. He can drop back at times to find the space and time his run perfectly. The ex-Celtic man also has an impressive eye for goal, attempting 2.1 shots per game. He possesses an excellent aerial ability winning 2.6 duels per game on an average.
Dembele is not known for his passing skills and the 70.1% accuracy that he has shown this season from his passes could undoubtedly improve. Lampard would be the right man to boost those figures. However, Dembele’s finishing is strong, making him an ideal centre-forward who can lead the line for the English manager’s team for a long time to come.
The Lyon man also has experience of playing in England with him starting his senior career at Fulham. He appeared in two Premier League matches for the club. Although the team got relegated that very season, he continued his adventure with the English side and eventually ended up playing 54 games in the second tier of English football. This should undoubtedly help him adjust to English football much better, and the fans would hope that Dembele does not show the initial jitters.
How can he fit into the squad?
Frank Lampard has made a change in the mindset of the team, which is certainly evident. The gaffer has given plenty of opportunities to the youngsters, unlike any other Chelsea manager under the Abramovich era. Indeed, the transfer ban has helped his cause, but Tammy Abraham has done wonders for the club this season. He has established himself ahead of Giroud and Michy Batshuayi in the pecking order, and it would be extremely cruel upon the youngster to be replaced by Dembele at this point.
That would mean that Lampard would have to shift to a two-man forward set up, and the versatility of Abraham could make it easier. While Dembele can play at the top and be the focal point of the attack, Abraham could drop back at times to be the supply line. Ziyech coming into the side would be an additional boost for the two forwards as the Ajax man can be the creator in chief for the west London side next season.
Stats from Whoscored.
