According to Tuttomercatoweb, Chelsea are monitoring the progress of Amadou Diawara. The Blues scouts were supposed to be in attendance on Sunday to keep an eye on the AS Roma midfielder, in their game against Juventus. However, they could face competition, with Tottenham Hotspur also interested.
Diawara’s spell in Serie A
Diawara initially enjoyed his breakthrough in Serie A during the 2015/16 campaign, making 34 league appearances for Bologna. It earned him a move to Napoli in 2016, for a fee of almost €15 million.
At Napoli, Diawara struggled with a lack of game-time, largely due to the presence of quality players like Jorginho, Allan, Piotr Zielinski and Fabian Ruiz. He mustered over 1,000 minutes of league football only once during his three-season spell in Naples.
The Guinean moved to Roma in the summer, for a fee of €21 million. And after a slow start to the campaign, it seems the midfielder is flourishing under the leadership of Paulo Fonseca.
Although injuries to several key players have played a crucial behind Diawara’s rise to prominence at Roma, he has become a vital component for the Giallorossi in the holding midfield role this season.
What can he bring to the table?
A number six by trade, Diawara has impressed the onlookers with his excellent passing. The Guinean international is capable of circulating possession and dictating the tempo of the game, notably attaining a pass completion rate of 87% this season.
Moreover, he can carry the ball forward and act as a ball-carrier. But, what makes him such a sought after midfielder in Italy is his ability to read the game. The midfielder has averaged an impressive 1.5 interceptions per game this season while his tally of 2.7 attempted tackles per match is also remarkable.
Should Chelsea make a move for Diawara?
Chelsea must make a move for Diawara this January or the upcoming summer due to multiple reasons. First and foremost, following the departure of Tiemoue Bakayoko, the Blues have lacked the presence of an out and out holding midfielder aside from Jorginho. The Roma midfielder, in that regard, should provide the much-needed competition in that number six slot.
It would also allow Frank Lampard to utilise N’Golo Kante more freely in the midfield unit. And as far as gameplay is concerned, Diawara’s excellent passing and game-reading abilities could add more solidity in the Chelsea side, which has looked quite promising this season. However, it remains doubtful whether or not the Guinean will be able to replicate his performance in the fast-paced nature of the Premier League.
