In a recent tweet, journalist Simon Phillips stated that Chelsea are eyeing a move for Celtic defender Josip Juranovic. It has been claimed that the Blues are hoping to land the Croatia international as they are eager to strengthen their defence next year.
Chelsea had Juranovic on the radar in the summer, still the case now. https://t.co/3ipFUdGPaR
— Simon Phillips (@siphillipssport) December 9, 2022
Juranovic’s Impressive Run Of Form At Celtic Park This Season
The 27-year-old has proved his worth as a consistent performer in Scottish football as he has been responsible for producing a run of solid displays for Celtic on the right flank. The Zagreb-born talent has netted one goal and grabbed one assist in 15 matches for the Glaswegian outfit this season across all competitions.
Juranovic has been a reliable performer at right-back based on his average of 1.1 tackles, 0.6 interceptions, 1.0 clearances, 1.0 shots and 1.6 key passes per game in the Scottish Premiership. He has even been accurate when distributing the ball from the right flank, as evidenced by his pass success rate of 85.2% in the Scottish first division (stats via whoscored).
His current contract at the Glaswegian club is set to expire in the summer of 2026. Thus, the Blues will have to make a sizable offer if they want to bring him on board next year. Furthermore, Juranovic is having an excellent 2022 FIFA World Cup tournament with Croatia which will increase his stock even more soon.
What Will Juranovic Bring To Chelsea?
Juranovic can get stuck in with some crunching tackles to make life tough for the opposition attackers. He is usually quick to spot the danger and can make a few timely interceptions for his team inside his half.
The Croat sensation doesn’t mind putting his foot through the ball when required and can also create some decent plays for others around him. He can shoot the ball with power and accuracy from long range but needs to find a way to be more productive in the final third.
At the moment, Juranovic is playing some of his best football with Croatia in the World Cup. Hence, it is no surprise that Chelsea are hoping to sign him.
We can expect Juranovic to bring a lot of quality to Graham Potter‘s defence at Stamford Bridge. He could even serve as an ideal successor to Cesar Azpilicueta who has entered the final stage of his playing career at the West London club. However, there are some question marks over whether he is good enough to make a smooth transition to life in Premier League football if the Blues decide to move in for him.
