Can Aaron Wan-Bissaka Become Chelsea’s Long Term Right-back?
Chelsea could be in for a big January.
The London club are facing a two year transfer ban from FIFA, after the governing body allegedly recommended the punishment due to the club signing certain players that were under the age of eighteen.
It’s thought that any ban wouldn’t be enforced until after the next transfer window, giving The Blues one window to prepare for the next two years.
Given Chelsea’s great youth set-up, with a whole array of talented youngsters being shipped out on loan per season, it should be noted that a potential ban on transfers would allow these talented young players the chance to shine in a Blues jersey. Another point to that is that Maurizio Sarri is a coach that isn’t scared to play a youngster if he thinks it benefits the team.
With that being said, Chelsea might want to bring in a few new faces in the winter transfer window to help plug any gaps within the first team squad.
You’ve got to think a new striker, who can grab goals will be one of their main targets. Depending on contract negotiations and players departing another centre-back might also be on the cards.
The Premier League club have recently been linked heavily with US international attacker Christian Pulisic from Borussia Dortmund.
Another position that might want attention is the right-back spot.
Cesar Azpilicueta has been a stalwart for the club, since arriving in 2012. But the versatile Spaniard hasn’t been at his very best this term and will turn thirty years of age in 2019.
Sarri might be thinking that he needs someone younger to challenge Cesar for his place in the team. Maybe not for this season but from there on in.
Davide Zappacosta is an OK back-up player but he’s not shown enough to suggest that he’s good enough to be regarded as a first team regular. The Italian’s signing seemed nothing more than squad filler. The Azzurri international has been linked with a return to Torino.
So maybe Chelsea could look at brining in Crystal Palace full-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
The twenty year old has been thriving in the Eagles team, since breaking into the starting line-up towards the end of last season. He’s made eleven league starts in this current campaign. His impressive performances have seen him receive a call-up to England’s under-21 side.
No defender has bettered Aaron’s 4.1 tackling average per game so far this term. No full-back has been better when making interceptions either, Wan-Bissaka has made around 2.8 interceptions per league appearance. The young right-back has also made a considerable 3.4 clearances per outing.
That shows us that Aaron Wan-Bissaka as a solid defensive full-back, who looks to be very committed and fairly consistent even at the early stage of his career.
The young full-back can push further forward and looks comfortable when dribbling down the line. The fact that Wan-Bissaka played as an attacker in his youth days, should see him get involved more in attacking positions once he develops more as a full-back.
His passing success rate isn’t the highest at 70% but we’ve got to remember he’s currently playing in an erratic Crystal Palace team.
At Chelsea, Azpilicueta has been averaging 87% in his passing success stats, Aaron would need to be looking to get those levels if he were to sign on at Stamford Bridge. But Aaron’s stats would instantly improve given Chelsea and Sarri’s footballing philosophy and their ability to control games.
Earlier this month, Palace boss Roy Hodgson stated that Palace are in no mood to sell their prized right-back:
It’s good I suppose that there are people out there writing stories, who see the quality of Bissaka and appreciate what he’s been doing and linking with another club.”
“But as far as we’re concerned of course we have him as our player, he’s under contract with us and we have no desire or intention of selling him so it’s certainly not anything which occupies my waking moments or sleeping moments either for that matter.”
I wonder if the looming transfer ban could actually work in Chelsea’s favour in this regard. Maybe The Blues could offer big money for the twenty year old and sign him in January before then allowing the full-back to return to the Selhurst Park club for the remainder of the season?
Posted on November 21st, 2018 by scott
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