According to renowned footballing journalist Duncan Castles, who was speaking on Reach PLC’s Transfer Window Podcast, Premier League giants Chelsea are said to be lining up a winter move for English winger Jadon Sancho. The podcast suggests that the Blues are eager to find a replacement for Willian, especially considering that his current contract expires at the end of the season and that the club has a policy of not offering more than one-year extensions to players over 30.
It has been claimed that the Blues’ chiefs Roman Abramovich and Marina Granovskaia are both desperate to make a statement signing in January to announce the London club’s intentions for the remainder of the season. Jadon Sancho is the man that they seem to have identified, and it has been suggested that the club are currently focusing all of their attention on acquiring some top quality wingers.
Why Are Chelsea Searching For A New Winger?
Frank Lampard’s squad certainly wouldn’t have filled the Pensioners’ faithful with a lot of confidence at the start of the season. For all the depth and quality they possess across various positions, there are a couple of areas of concern that the manager will do well to address. The second-choice striker and left-back issues have undoubtedly been the most talked about, but it could be the winger problem that the Chelsea staff are focusing on at the moment.
Willian, Pedro, Christian Pulisic and Callum Hudson-Odoi are the four wingers that Lampard currently has at his disposal, and the need for reinforcements is clear to see. Pedro and Willian are both in the wrong side of their 30s, while the former has effectively been frozen out from the team. Pulisic and Hudson-Odoi are still far too young to be able to deliver consistently at the highest level, while Willian’s time at Stamford Bridge, as was reiterated by Castles in the podcast, could be limited as well.
Why Chelsea Must Move For Jadon Sancho Immediately
Chelsea’s hunt for Sancho has been going on for a while now, and it’s no surprise that they are eager to make such a big-money signing. The last player that the London club acquired on Sancho’s level was Eden Hazard, and his contributions to the famous West London club are now the stuff of legend. His pace and energy make him a good fit for Lampard’s dynamic system as well.
An adept dribbler of the ball, he would slot right into the Blues’ first-team and could turn into a fan-favourite at Stamford Bridge. The fact that he’s originally from London is an added advantage, while his relationship with some of Chelsea’s English contingent is sure to be a boost as well. The youngster has the skills and tricks to win over the hearts of fans in an instance, and signing a player like that would be the quickest way back into the big time for a massive club like Chelsea.
