Enzo Maresca has had to deal with a lot in his first season in the dugout at Stamford Bridge and could still end up with a trophy as Chelsea remain in the hunt for the Conference League.
The Blues are also currently fourth in the Premier League table in their hunt to return to the Champions League by finishing in the top five by the end of the campaign.
This is despite Chelsea’s struggles at the top end of the pitch as Maresca’s team have not made enough of the high-quality chances that his system has created for the players.
Cole Palmer
14.77
14
-0.77
Nicolas Jackson
12.16
9
-3.16
Noni Madueke
8.19
7
-1.19
Christopher Nkunku
4.16
3
-1.46
Enzo Fernandez
4.18
4
-0.18
As you can see in the table above, the five players with the most xG for the London giants in the Premier League this season have all underperformed against their expected tallies.
Nicolas Jackson, in particular, has been wasteful in the final third with his return of just nine goals from 12.16 xG, which may be why the club were linked to Alexander Isak earlier this year.
Chelsea's reported interest in Alexander Isak
Speaking to The Chelsea Chronicle in February, journalist Graeme Bailey revealed that the Blues do hold an interest in the Newcastle United centre-forward ahead of the summer transfer window.
Bailey said: “Chelsea like him. He’s certainly on their radar. If the opportunity came up, if you don’t win a ticket you can’t buy the raffle, and I think with Isak Chelsea would have a conversation.”
It would take a lot to secure the Sweden international’s signature, though, as The Telegraph reported back in December of last year that the Magpies value him at more than £150m.
Since then, Isak has scored the winning goal in the League Cup final at Wembley against Liverpool to land Newcastle their first major trophy in 70 years, which will have done little to help Chelsea – or anyone else – lower their valuation of the striker.
A move for £150m or more would be a club-record for Chelsea, surpassing the £115m deal they agreed with Brighton & Hove Albion for Moises Caicedo, and it remains to be seen whether or not they would be prepared to go that high to land the former Real Sociedad and Borussia Dortmund marksman.
The Blues are, however, said to be looking at alternative options in the market as a fresh report suggests that they have set their sights on another centre-forward.
The latest on Chelsea's interest in Bundesliga striker
According to CaughtOffside, Chelsea are one of a number of European teams interested in a swoop to sign Eintracht Frankfurt number nine Hugo Ekitike in the upcoming summer transfer window.
The report claims that Manchester United, Newcastle United, Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool, and West Ham United are all keen on a deal to snap up the former Paris Saint-Germain attacker ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.
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It states that the Premier League teams are all plotting bids to snap him up later this year, and that they would be willing to pay a fee of €60m (£50m) to get a move over the line.
CaughtOffside adds that Frankfurt would prefer to keep hold of the France U21 international until 2026, but they would be willing to listen to reasonable offers for the striker this year amid interest from a host of top clubs in England.
The outlet states that Chelsea view the forward as a ‘budget-friendly’ option, which makes sense when you consider the aforementioned £150m price tag for Isak – £100m more than the Premier League sides are willing to pay for Ekitike.
The Blues must, now, push to beat the likes of Man United, Liverpool, and Arsenal, to the 22-year-old star’s signature this summer because he could be Maresca’s own version of Isak at Stamford Bridge.
Why Hugo Ekitike could be Chelsea's own Alexander Isak
Firstly, they share a similar build as Isak stands at 6 foot 4 and Ekitike stands at 6 foot 3, whilst neither of them are bulky, traditional, centre-forwards.
Secondly, FBref lists the Newcastle sensation as the second-most similar player, behind Omar Marmoush, to the French ace based on their statistics in the past 365 days.
As you can see in the chart above, they share a lot of statistical similarities per 90, particularly when it comes to scoring goals from open play and creating chances for their teammates.
This suggests that they are similar in style, as well as sharing a similar physique, and this suggests that Ekitike would be able to fulfill the same tactical remit that would be asked of Isak at Stamford Bridge.
The Frankfurt star, who was once described as “complete” and described as similar to Thierry Henry by talent scout Jacek Kulig, is three years younger than the Newcastle ace, though, and still has some development left to go through to reach his level in the final third.
Starts
24
25
Goals
13
19
Minutes per goal
152
108
Big chances missed
12
11
Big chances created
7
10
Assists
4
5
As you can see in the table above, Isak has outperformed Ekitike at league level this season with six more goals and one more assist in one more start, but that does not seem like a £100m or more gap in quality.
The France U21 international, who scored a hat-trick against England’s U21s earlier this month, has three years to catch up to the Swedish sensation and could come in as Maresca’s own Isak in the making at Stamford Bridge.
He has the technical and physical attributes to become Chelsea’s own version of the Magpies star and that is why the club should push to win the race for his signature when the time comes this summer, because they could save themselves more than £100m in the market if they can agree a £50m deal for the Frankfurt marksman.
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It is now down to the board to ensure that they can put an attractive offer on the table with the bid that they are reportedly planning, and down to Maresca to convince the player that Chelsea is the right club for him to make the next step in his career at.