In a recent print edition, Mundo Deportivo revealed that Chelsea are still in the race to recruit Atletico Madrid midfielder Saul Niguez this summer. It has been stated that the Blues are locked in a three-way battle with Liverpool and Manchester United in pursuit of the Spanish playmaker during this summer transfer period (transcripted and translated by Sport Witness).
Saul Niguez’s Solid Form At Madrid Last Season
Saul had a successful season at the Spanish capital as he helped the Madrid giants secure another La Liga title earlier this year. The 26-year-old netted two goals and picked up one assist in 41 matches for Diego Simeone’s team across all fronts.
The Elche-born midfield ace contributed in little ways at both ends of the field by averaging 1.7 tackles, 0.6 interceptions, 0.9 clearances, 1.0 shots, 0.7 key passes and 0.5 dribbles per 90 minutes in the Spanish top tier. He was quite accurate with his ball distribution after making 84.4% of his attempted passes in top-flight football (stats via whoscored).
Saul is still under contract at the Wanda Metropolitano until the summer of 2026, so the Blues would have to make a sizable offer if they want to bring the Spaniard to West London before the transfer window slams shut at the end of this month.
Should The Blues Launch A Move For Saul Niguez This Summer?
Saul can play a wide variety of passes from midfield and is proficient at keeping the ball moving at the centre of the park. He has got the vision to create some decent openings for others around him and can also get stuck in with a few solid tackles to hamper the opposition’s rhythm in the game. However, the Spanish sensation has to find a way to improve his offensive productivity if he intends to re-establish himself as a world-class midfielder in the coming seasons.
Joining Chelsea could allow the player to get his career back on track this summer. However, Thomas Tuchel’s midfield is already stacked as it is because the Chelsea boss has the likes of Jorginho, Mateo Kovacic and N’Golo Kante fighting for a regular starting spot at Stamford Bridge.
At the moment, the Blues cannot afford to offer Saul regular playing time which could make it difficult for them to sign the player. However, if Tuchel is planning to build for the future, the Atletico Madrid star might prove to be a great successor to Kante at the West London club in the long run. With all things considered, the reigning European champions should think about engineering a move to land the Spaniard before the transfer deadline on August 31st.
