Chelsea have a big summer transfer window ahead, one where they need to target balance and a touch of lethality in the final third.
With the football season suspended, for the time being, the Blues have been linked with several players, and the latest in that long list is former Liverpool star, Philippe Coutinho, as per Sky Sports.
The Barcelona attacker is currently on loan at Bayern Munich, but has failed to really light up Allianz Arena. There have been flashes of brilliance of course, but he has not been consistent enough, which is why Bayern will not sign him on a permanent deal.
Chelsea have already confirmed that Hakim Ziyech will join the club next season, so it begs the question if Coutinho will fit in should the Blues sign him. Should they really?
Chelsea signing Philippe Coutinho would be a bad idea
A couple of years ago, Coutinho was one of the best players in the world, and certainly among the top three attacking players in the Premier League.
However, his form and performances after leaving Liverpool have been below the high standards he set while he was in the Premier League.
Coutinho will fit in at Chelsea, but considering what he brings to the table and what Chelsea really need, he won’t necessarily solve issues at the club.
The Blues have created chances this season, and a dynamic player like Ziyech will only add to that next season, it’s just that they haven’t been able to finish off openings.
With an inexperienced attack, the Blues have managed to score 51 goals, which is the fourth-highest in the league. They should have scored a lot more if you consider the number of shots they have had on target – 481 – which is the second-most in the league this season.
The aforementioned stats indicate that creating chances has not been the issue for Frank Lampard’s side, who have generally played some fluent football without end product at times. Defensively, they can be better as well.
Next season will be big for Lampard, but he will have players like Ziyech, and Christian Pulisic will be more acclimatised to the league as well. Mason Mount has done well in the system as well, and will only improve next year.
Chelsea should perhaps focus on signing a proven striker in the summer who can bury the chances. Ziyech’s arrival will help as he likes getting on the scoresheet, but if Lampard gets a prolific striker to lead the line, they could potentially push the teams above them.
Stats via Premier League