Transfer News:
Chelsea were troubled last season as Alvaro Morata’s inability to adapt to EPL’s style of play saw the club suffer for a considerable period of time. This meant that they went behind a target-man in Olivier Giroud and managed to lure the former Arsenal man in January. Giroud instantly became an integral member of the squad, replacing Morata to nail a starting spot regularly. However, Giroud has signed only an 18-month deal and hence Chelsea are preparing themselves well in advance in case any of their strikers suffer a goal-drought yet again.
As a result, FC Porto striker, Moussa Marega is being linked with a move to Chelsea. Marega was in fine form last season, as he played in a two-striker formation for the Portuguese club and added a lot of steel and quality upfront. The same report has linked the player with West Ham and a host of other clubs too, but Chelsea seem to be the frontrunners in this transfer.
Moussa Marega: Player Profile
Moussa is a strong striker with a good built and relies on his physicality to outmuscle the opposition’s defender inside the penalty box. He is quick on his feet, can thrive on through balls and is a strong presence inside the penalty box too. The lad has a decent touch and can combine well enough with his teammates to form some passing moves around the box before finishing off with a goal. He times his runs well, and that is courtesy of his sudden acceleration and the quick burst of pace that surprises the defenders.
Moussa scored 22 goals in 29 league appearances last season. He also garnered four assists and took 3.3 shots on target per match. Marega dribbled past the opponent 1.3 times on an average and won 1.2 aerial duels too. In the Champions League, he failed to score even once but managed to assist twice in six appearances. It is quite clear that Moussa is a poacher of sorts and does not involve much into the other aspects of a striker’s overall play.
Should Chelsea make a move?
It all depends on Alvaro Morata’s future at Stamford Bridge. The Spaniard endured a difficult first season but has the talent in him to succeed in the EPL. Morata needs a strong mentality to thwart off the distractions and carry the responsibility that comes with being the leading striker of any team. Moussa, despite his goal tally, does not look like someone of Chelsea’s quality.
Whether he would improve the squad or not is questionable and hence this move is unlikely to materialize. He failed to score in the European League, despite appearing in six games and that says a lot about the improvement that he has to make in his style of play. Currently, the appropriate thing to do would be to trust Morata and Giroud to bail Chelsea out next season.