Fulham beat Brentford by 2-1 in a nail-biting encounter to secure the return to Premier League on Tuesday, and the result could be a boost for Chelsea, in their chase of winger Said Benrahma.
Benrahma was one of the standout players in 2019-20 Championship season, and has been linked with a move to Chelsea.
The Algerian international scored 17 goals and assisted a further nine in 43 matches as Brentford fell agonizingly short of automatic promotion to England’s top-flight.
Brentford’s failure to secure promotion means the Bees will be powerless to stop Benrahma from moving to Stamford Bridge should a suitable bid come in, as per Football.London.
Why Chelsea should make their move and sign Said Benrahma
Said Benrahma, arguably, was the championship Player of the season. He scored 17 goals and provided 10 assists in 46 league appearances for the Bees, and was their attacking mainstay along with Ollie Watkins.
The 24-year-old was quite a revelation, and it will be extremely hard for the Bees to hold on to him after a season like that, especially when clubs like Chelsea – with Champions League football to offer – come calling.
Benrahma’s dribbling ability and composure in the final third have particularly caught the eye, and it’s something you wouldn’t expect in a more physical league like the Championship.
The 24-year old completed an average of 3 dribbles a game, and also managed 2.1 key passes, which shows his creative ability in the final third.
Dubbed the ‘Algerian Messi’, he certainly showed he can be a handful for defences in the Championship, but it remains to be seen if he can replicate that in the Premier League.
He would be a good replacement for Willian and Pedro, who are both expected to depart the club in this transfer window.
The 24-year-old shares lot of similarities with the Manchester City winger Riyad Mahrez, not just because of their Algerian nationality but also due to their similar style of play. Benrahma has rightly been tipped to imitate the success of his compatriot in the coming years.
Benrahma’s rise to popularity in England’s second-tier has drawn admiring glances from several Premier League clubs in recent months.
The Algerian will not cost a fortune, and for his age, he would be a pretty good value for money signing and a long-term one at that. Chelsea should make their move and get their man.
Stats via Whoscored