Chelsea are reportedly keeping an eye on Inter Milan star Marcelo Brozovic, and could make a move for the midfielder.
Although Frank Lampard has several midfield options to choose from, Brozovic could offer more dynamism compared to the midfielders currently in the Chelsea squad.
As per an exclusive by 90min.com, Inter Milan are looking to provide Antonio Conte with some money to spend, and could sell Brozovic to make way for fresh faces.
Chelsea, who themselves have been linked with a move for West Ham United’s Declan Rice, have put Brozovic on their radar as he would offer something different compared to Rice.
Considering the Blues have spent a lot of money in strengthening their attack and the left-back position, this is one transfer that might depend on the club selling players before they can buy one.
Brozovic has impressed in his spell for Inter Milan, but why exactly are Chelsea keen on the midfielder?
Marcelo Brozovic to Chelsea – What will he add to the team?
The Blues got a lot of things right under Frank Lampard last season, but their defence was not one of them.
Chelsea were often undone by shaky and err0r-prone defending, and the absence of experience in the backline was one of the reasons. However, the defence did not have the best of protections from their midfielders, and hence struggled to stop attacks.
N’Golo Kante missed a lot of games last season, and the team visibly struggled in his absence. Marcelo Brozovic is not as defensive-minded as Kante, but he is a player who could fit in seamlessly in Lampard’s set-up.
Like most modern-day coaches, Lampard likes his side to play out from the back, and someone like Brozovic would help them with that. At Inter, the Croatian is used to receiving the ball from the defenders and connecting the defence to attack, or make the forward forays himself with his driving runs.
A solid passer, Brozovic can split open defences with his long-range passing and combination play with the rest of the midfielders and attackers. He averaged a pass success rate of 89.9% last season, and also finished the season with 1.2 key passes per game; impressive numbers for a central midfielder.
From a defensive aspect, Brozovic managed 2.1 tackles and 1.4 interceptions a game in the Serie A, and protected Inter’s backline well. A total of three goals and six assists is a decent return for central midfielder, and there is no doubt that he would offer something different if Chelsea manage to get their hands on him. (Stats via Whoscored)
At 27, he is also two years younger than Kante, so he would be a long-term addition to the Chelsea squad.
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