It’s fair to say that since moving to Stamford Bridge in 2023, Chelsea has relied on England International Cole Palmer.
The left-footed offensive midfielder is currently leading the team in goals (14) and assists (6) this season in the Premier League.
The former Manchester City man also led the way in goals (22) and assists (11) in the 2023/24 Premier League campaign.
However, Palmer failed to register goals or assists in the final 10 appearances in all competitions, resulting in four losses. These dry spells are where Maresca needs other forwards to step up.
Unfortunately, Chelsea have no world-class wingers on their team to provide quality when Palmer is not at their best, as they have lacked elite talent in that area of the pitch since Eden Hazard moved to Real Madrid in 2019.
Why did Chelsea miss Eden Hazard?
Since Belgian Wizard left Stamford Bridge at the end of the 2018/19 season, no winger has registered more than seven assists in Chelsea’s Singles Premier League campaign.
Hazard scored 16 goals and 15 assists in that campaign. He provided constant goals and assists to help his side, earning seven people the following year the best tally of assists from wingers since that semester.
The now-retired star had the ability to make a big impact on determining the Blues game with goals and assists at the top end of the pitch.
As you can see in the clip above, Hazard creates a magical moment in the final third, allowing the team to get out of bad situations by scoring great goals from nothing.
He was an electric winger who consistently provided Chelsea quality and had 110 goals and 85 assists in all competitions, so it was always difficult to find a player to replace the production level of the flank.
Eden Hazard’s Premier League career | |||
---|---|---|---|
season | exterior | the goal | assist |
2018/19 | 37 | 16 | 15 |
2017/18 | 34 | 12 | 4 |
2016/17 | 36 | 16 | 5 |
2015/16 | 31 | 4 | 3 |
2014/15 | 38 | 14 | 9 |
2013/14 | 35 | 14 | 7 |
2012/13 | 34 | 9 | 11 |
Statistics through the Transfer Market |
However, it’s disappointing from a recruitment standpoint that the club is almost six years after his exit and can offer more than seven assists in the league season.
But Chelsea were able to eventually land the winger they were looking for and their best wide player.
Chelsea Open Talk Signs Lari Gastar
According to Bootroom, Chelsea has begun speaking to sign athletic Bilbao Winger Nico Williams over the upcoming summer transfer period.
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The report claims that the Premier League giants are talking with player representatives and seeing how viable the summer move is, while making them aware of their interest in their clients.
Lariga’s side Barcelona is also interested in the forwards, but said it could open the door to the team from the UK as they haven’t added a wide range of their priorities this summer.
The bootroom adds Williams is open to switching to the Premier League.
Spanish International also has a release clause of just under £50 million, claiming that the Blues have no issues with paying, and Maresca has to push the board forward to win the race of his signature this summer.
Why Chelsea must sign Nico Williams
Chelsea will have to plummet to sign Williams from Athletic Bilbao for around £50 million at the end of this season, as they are wingers with the quality to become the club’s best wide man since Hazard.
As mentioned above, since moving to Real Madrid in 2019, no blueswinger has registered more than seven assists in a single league season.
Described as a “scary” talent by analyst Ben Matinson, Williams is a player who could potentially provide Maresca with the presence of the wings his team missed this season.
Since the launch of the 2023/24 campaign, the 22-year-old Dynamo has scored 17 goals and 23 assists in all Athletic Bilbao tournaments.
Meanwhile, Williams scored two goals, created four “big chances” and registered one assist in six matches to help Spain win the European Championship ahead of the UK.
23/24 Lariga | Nico Williams |
---|---|
start | 29 |
the goal | 5 |
The dribbling is complete | 87 |
A big opportunity has been created | 10 |
Key Pass | 47 |
assist | 11 |
Statistics via Sofascore |
As you can see in the table above, Electric With hit 11 assists in Bilbao’s final full league campaign, not one of Lariga’s main challengers.
This shows that European champions have skill set, consistency and quality that provides a great creative threat to the top edge of the Chelsea pitch.
As mentioned before, no blueswinger has had more than seven assists in the season since Hazard.
Of course, it depends on the Spanish Wyz to prove he can provide Chelsea’s regular goals and assists as he did for Bilbao, but his form in his home country suggests he is there to make an exceptional addition to Maresca’s team.
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The club therefore must push Liverpool and Arsenal to beat Williams’ signature in the summer transfer window. Because his offensive threat could potentially create a deadly partnership next season when Palmer’s brilliance in the midfield.