Football News 24/7 Chelsea and more specifically Jose Mourinho said they would not be active in the transfer window. Despite this reports have emerged over the last 48 hours that Juan Cuadrado is likely to join the club for £26.8 million from Fiorentina. Cuadrado was a key member of the impressive Colombia side at the World Cup and would compete with Willian for the wide right berth. With Andre Schurrle and Mohamed Salah then likely to be let go (one now and one probably this summer). But, does the move make sense for Chelsea? What will Cuadrado bring? In many ways he’s a perfect target. Cuadrado is capable of playing at right wing back so is adept at defending as well as going forward. Willian, who currently occupies the right side of the attack, does not score many goals but is very good at tracking back and chipping in with a team performance. Cuadrado is also going to do this, unlike Andre Schurrle or Salah. The Colombian has won an average of 1.3 tackles per game at Fiorentina, as well as averaging two defensive actions per game. He’s also very quick and very good at getting down the right hand side with 2.5 succesful dribbles per game. Only Eden Hazard (who plays off of the left) has completed more dribbles per game of the current Chelsea players, with 4.8 (the most in Europe). Cuadrado is also more of a goal threat than Willian with four goals in sixteen compared to the 1 goal in 21 for Willian. As a creator he’s made 2.2 chances per game which is more than Chelsea’s Willian, Schurrle or Salah. In fact only Hazard and Fabregas have created more per game than Cuadrado has this season. In the Chelsea line-up he’d add a bit more attacking threat than Willian, who is largely a ball player but not creator or goal scorer from that role. He has a good blend of attacking prowess and defensive awareness as well as pace to stretch opposition teams. If Chelsea do sign Cuadrado it’d be a very good signing for them and would definitely signal the sale of Salah and or Schurrle, either now or in the summer. In the end though it would be an upgrade for Chelsea
Posted on: Thu, 22 Jan 2015 15:26:44 +0000
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