According to a recent report by Goal, ex Ajax ace Jesper Gronkjaer has urged Dutch midfielder Donny Van De Beek to snub moves to European giants Real Madrid and Barcelona, and instead opt for a club that is ‘a level below that’. The former winger went on to suggest that a switch to either Chelsea or Tottenham would be better suited to the midfielder’s playing style and even compared the Ajax man’s skill-set to that of current Chelsea head coach Frank Lampard.
As Gronkjaer urges Donny Van De Beek to join Chelsea, the report suggests that the midfielder has been tipped to leave the Amsterdam Arena this summer. Speaking to Goal, the former Ajax and Chelsea attacker said, “I wouldn’t be surprised to see him at Real Madrid or Barcelona but I would rather see him at a club just below that. For his style of play alone, clubs like Tottenham or Chelsea would be a better fit. They are still top clubs and he is more like Frank Lampard, that kind of player. He is a big guy, box-to-box and takes good long shots.”
What Would Van De Beek Add To This Chelsea Team?
The energetic Dutchman had a massive part to play in the Blues’ 4-4 Champions League draw against Ajax this season – a fixture during which he managed to score a goal along the way too. An excellent ball carrier from the middle of the park, the Ajax man can find brilliant threaded passes from the most improbable of ranges.
Despite not necessarily being the most technically gifted name in the Ajax squad, Van De Beek offers a fantastic array of quality in the midfield area. The midfielder picked up a return of eight goals and six assists from his 23 Eredivisie fixtures this term.
For starters, like Frank Lampard in his prime, the 23-year-old knows quite well how to get a shot from a distance on target, while his physical stature makes him a problematic runner to bring down as well. Also, the Ajax man showcases amazing positioning ability in defensive situations, although it must be conceded that he’s actually at his best while going forward. Van De Beek is exceptionally unselfish, as he always looks for a better passing opportunity before pulling the trigger himself.
Do Chelsea Need A Box To Box Midfielder This Summer?
The return of Ruben Loftus-Cheek from injury will effectively be like a new signing for Frank Lampard after the Englishman hurt himself during a post-season friendly towards the end of last season. His reintroduction is something that faithful Chelsea fans have been waiting for a while now, meaning that there isn’t an immediate need for another high-energy midfielder. Add in the fact that the Blues already possess the likes of Mateo Kovacic, Ross Barkley and even N’Golo Kante – all of who can play in that position, and the need for a new midfielder is completely wiped out.
Gronkjaer Urges Donny Van De Beek To Join Chelsea: Should Lampard Get It Done?
The Blues’ struggles in the Premier League this season have been apparent to see, and if there’s one position where they don’t need to make any improvements, then that’s in central midfield. The London club’s search for a new striker and full-back have been no secret over the last many months, and signing another box-to-box midfielder wouldn’t make too much logical sense from the Chelsea standpoint. There is enough energy and creativity in the Chelsea midfield line already, and the addition of another one wouldn’t do anything actually to help their cause.
