Antonio Conte’s men are still in the race to qualify for the Champions League next season and have set up an FA Cup final with Manchester City, but lagging far behind Manchester City in defending their league title will not go down well with the club hierarchy.
The manager may yet retain his job next season but irrespective of his future, Chelsea continue to scout for players who can improve their side next season. But one story, that might also throw some light on Conte’s future is Chelsea’s interest in Kwadwo Asamoah.
Chelsea Join Race For Asamoah
The 29-year old is out of a contract with Juventus at the end of the season and reports claim that he is ready to quit the club as a free agent. Italian giants Inter Milan are said to be leading the race to his signature but it is now understood that Chelsea are also showing an interest in Asamoah.
So is he a decent acquisition for The Blues?
What Will He Bring To Chelsea?
A versatile footballer who can play as a left-back left wing-back or as a central midfielder, the former Udinese man has loads of experience under his belt, having made 69 international appearances for Ghana. He has 229 Serie A appearances to his name along with 21 UCL outings and has been crucial in Juventus’ domestic run this season.
He was a part of the league winning side in Serie A in every year since he moved to Juventus stadium and at his age, is easily a huge coup for most top teams in Europe.
He is strong in hold up play and is usually secure with his defending. He is hard to beat in one on one situations but is not too strong in the air. He is a decent passer and can create chances from the flank with his crosses but is more adept at sitting back and soaking up the pressure to release his attackers from a deeper role.
Coming in on a free transfer, he will be an attractive option for The Blues.
Asamoah And The Conte Link
Asamoah joined Juventus back in 2012 in what was Antonio Conte’s second year in Turin. In fact, he was one of the first few signing Conte made for the Italian giants and the fact that Chelsea are interested in him shows that Conte still has a say in the transfers at the club.
The Italian genius spent on Marcos Alonso in his first summer and had to bring Emerson Palmieri to Stamford Bridge in January to sort out the left wing-back position. But Juventus’ Alex Sandro remains his prime target.
However, reports now suggest that the Italian international is happy in Italy and might not be an option for Chelsea in the near future. This is where Asamoah is a decent option.
With experience at the highest level to show for and a style of play perfect for Conte at Chelsea, Asamoah could act as the utility man in the side, helping out in more than one position. He is a riskless investment but a lot will depend on Conte’s future at the club. Do you think Chelsea will sign Asamoah this summer?