According to recent accusations from Whoscored, Chelsea believed it had signed Raphinha from Leeds before Barcelona and Arsenal. But not until the Blues felt they had made enough progress in luring the Brazilian to Stamford Bridge. The Brazilian does seem to be joining the Blaugrana right now. Raphinha has already committed to Camp Nou, so if they want to recruit another winger this summer, they will need to go elsewhere.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!However, Blues boss Thomas Tuchel is wary of running out of striking options before another major campaign given Romelu Lukaku’s return to Inter and Hakim Ziyech’s likely departure to AC Milan. Strengthening the frontline is crucial since London rivals Arsenal and Tottenham have both bolstered their offenses with new players, with the latter adding Gabriel Jesus and the former bringing Richarlison from Everton.
Serge Gnabry and Rafael Leao have both lately been linked to Stamford Bridge transfers. The latter plays predominantly on the other wing but can also play through the center when necessary, whilst the former may be viewed as a more direct substitute for Raphinha. Leao made a huge contribution to AC Milan winning the title last season. He scored 11 goals and provided another eight assists for a WhoScored rating of 7.37, which qualified him for a spot on the Serie A team of the season.
Leao seeks to break down the left before cutting infield to make the most of his right foot’s magic wand, much like Raphinha does from the right flank. The Portuguese star’s right foot was used in nine of his 11 league goals as he made an amazing offensive push before cutting back to shoot. While the 23-year-old did yield a success percentage of just 60.1 percent on his 98 successful dribbles last season, he still provided Tuchel with the unpredictable style the German manager wants.
Lack of adaptability in the final third and Lukaku’s difficulty meeting Tuchel’s standards on the frontline were problems for the Blues last season. He would at least be able to draw upon a variety of attackers who are challenging to monitor with Sterling and one of Gnabry or Leao, which is the reverse of Lukaku, who frequently played off the last defender’s shoulder, a one-dimensional approach by contrast.
Leao would give Chelsea a wide option that is comparable to that of hero Eden Hazard, which would be a great plus. In his prime, Hazard would frequently receive the ball on the left before cutting inside, leaving a gap that the overlapping full-back might take advantage of. Leao takes a similar tack, therefore it’s no accident that Theo Hernandez, the left-back for AC Milan, flourished during Rossoneri’s title-winning campaign. Ben Chilwell would flourish in the final third with a winger ready to entice defenders away from the left flank to advance in Tuchel’s preferred three-man defense, where wing-backs play a key role.
However, Tuchel could like Leao’s flexibility on offense the most. Leao can play in the center, spearhead his side’s attack, and, at the very least, operate down the right, but he is undoubtedly better suited for the left flank. Tuchel has more tactical freedom since Leao can play in a variety of offensive roles because he can work effectively with his teammates to create havoc in the opponent’s box.
The problem for Chelsea is that they will have to spend a lot of money if they do decide to sign Leao. The tricky winger’s contract with AC Milan expires in 2024, and given his performance this season, he won’t be cheap. Paolo Maldini, the sports director of AC Milan, recently stated that “we consider Rafa Leao untouchable,” however he did note that the player has a €150 million release clause in his contract. If Chelsea were to acquire Leao this summer, they would have to smash their transfer record for the third consecutive summer.
Given his strong work ethic and versatility on the front lines, Gnabry is therefore maybe the more alluring choice for Tuchel. The 26-year-old German’s contract expires the next year, and there have been no signs that Bayern Munich would extend his stay with the club. However, prominent English teams have also been linked with a move for Gnabry, while the Premier League has shown little real interest in Leao.
Even if AC Milan wants to sign their best asset to a long-term contract, a large money move for Leao may still be in the cards if owner Todd Boehly is willing to support Tuchel to the fullest. Leao would be the more costly choice of the two wingers, but Chelsea would finally have a player capable of succeeding Hazard at Stamford Bridge to strengthen their chances of winning the championship by spending so much on him.
