Chelsea Linked With In-form Ligue 1 Star: Why Sarri Should Splash The Cash For Him

According to L’Equipe, a host of new clubs have joined the race to sign Lyon midfielder Nabil Fekir in the upcoming January transfer window. Fekir’s move to Liverpool fell through earlier this summer but it is believed that Chelsea and Real Madrid are chief among clubs, who have joined the race to sign the Frenchman.

Chelsea, in particular, will be keen to bolster their creative department despite signing Mateo Kovacic this summer. And, Nabil Fekir has been identified as the perfect candidate by head coach Maurizio Sarri as he looks to further solidify Chelsea’s attack in the upcoming transfer window.

Player profile and statistics

Highly regarded as one of the best playmakers in Europe at the moment, Nabil Fekir is a dynamic attacker, who has attracted attention with his consistent performances in Ligue 1.

Last season, in particular, Fekir played an integral role for Lyon in the final third, scoring 18 goals whilst producing seven assists in just 30 matches. While his excellent performances helped Lyon finish third in the league table, just two points behind second-placed Monaco, it also earned him a place in France’s World Cup-winning squad earlier this summer.

As far as his skill set is concerned, Fekir is certainly a useful operator in the final third, who is blessed with excellent technical ability. He is primarily known for his impressive dribbling qualities, reflected in the fact that he had an average of 5 dribbles per game last season. He is also quite proficient when it comes to retaining the ball, even in tight spaces which, coupled with his excellent vision, makes him an ideal playmaker for any top European team.

Why Chelsea need Nabil Fekir

Nabil Fekir could be an excellent acquisition for Chelsea given their lack of depth in the creative department. The likes of Willian and Eden Hazard were linked with a move out of Stamford Bridge earlier this summer while Cesc Fabregas has hardly featured under Sarri, leaving Ross Barkley and Mateo Kovacic as Chelsea’s only source of creativity.

Kovacic is on loan and his future is quite uncertain at Stamford Bridge beyond this season. Fabregas is clearly on the wane and is unlikely to play a lot of games even if he impresses Sarri. And Fekir is certainly an upgrade on Barkley.

As mentioned earlier, the Frenchman has been a consistent performer in the Ligue 1 for the past few years and is coming on the back of a great season with Lyon. And on top of that, he is blessed with incredible potential, making him one of the most appealing targets for the West London giants.

Stat courtesy: Whoscored