In a recent report on Substack, journalist Simon Phillips stated that Chelsea are showing interest in Inter Milan forward Lautaro Martinez. It is understood that the Blues are eyeing a move to sign the Argentine striker next year.
Martinez’s Decent Record At San Siro This Season
Martinez is enjoying a productive campaign at the Italian club as he has been responsible for putting in several match-winning displays in the final third. The Argentina international has banged in 17 goals and earned four assists in 23 appearances for Inter this season in all competitions.
The 26-year-old has been a decent performer in the opponent’s half and has done well to average 3.3 shots, 0.8 key passes and 0.7 dribbles per 90 minutes in Serie A football. He has even distributed possession relatively well after making 77.6% of his attempted passes in the Italian top tier (stats via whoscored).
His current contract at the Milan club will expire in the summer of 2026. Hence, the Blues will have to launch a sizable offer if they are serious about recruiting Martinez next year.
What Will Martinez Add To Chelsea Boss Mauricio Pochettino’s Team?
Martinez can create a yard of space for himself to get some strikes in at goal. He has proven himself to be a capable finisher in front of the opponent’s goal and can even create some promising opportunities for his teammates to find the back of the net.
The Argentina international is a technically gifted footballer who is a good dribbler with the ball at his feet. Hence, we can expect Martinez to add more firepower to Chelsea head coach Mauricio Pochettino’s attack. He mainly functions as a centre-forward but can also play alongside someone up top if needed.
The South American talent has what it takes to earn a regular starting spot at the West London club in the coming seasons. At 26, Martinez has his best years ahead of him which makes him a worthy target for the Blues to pursue in 2024. However, it remains to be seen whether he can cope with the physical nature and high intensity of Premier League football if Pochettino can find a way to get a deal done for him this January or at the end of this season.
