Chelsea Switch Information: Blues Monitoring Joaquin Panichelli
Chelsea’s season continues to swing from one excessive to the opposite.
A ruthless 3–0 dismantling of Barcelona within the Champions League briefly instructed Enzo Maresca’s facet had discovered a brand new degree, and their composed show within the 1–1 draw with league-leaders Arsenal solely strengthened that optimism.
However the momentum evaporated virtually immediately as Chelsea slumped to a disjointed 3–1 defeat to newly promoted Leeds, earlier than being held to a irritating 0–0 draw by Bournemouth on the weekend.
That stutter has seen the Blues fall to fifth within the Premier League — nonetheless inside attain of the highest 4, however a far cry from the management and confidence they confirmed only a fortnight in the past.
Defensively, the collapse at Elland Street rang alarm bells, but it’s the lack of a constant goalscorer that continues to be the most important concern.
Joao Pedro continues to impress usually play however has solely 4 objectives in 18 outings, whereas Liam Delap — who suffered a shoulder harm towards Bournemouth — has managed only a single strike all season. With the assault misfiring, Chelsea’s recruitment crew has accelerated their seek for a dependable quantity 9.
And now, consideration has turned to 1 standout ahead lighting up Ligue 1.
Chelsea Ship Scouts to Watch Panichelli
Chelsea have been maintaining an in depth eye on Joaquín Panichelli’s breakout season at Strasbourg, with TEAMtalk reporting that the membership has recurrently dispatched scouts to watch his progress.
Panichelli has been one of many revelations of the Ligue 1 marketing campaign, stepping up within the absence of injured captain Emmanuel Emegha and delivering the sort of kind that has compelled golf equipment throughout Europe to take discover.
Strasbourg boss Liam Rosenior has described the 23-year-old as “unbelievable”, and the numbers again that up: 10 objectives in 19 appearances throughout all competitions, together with a brace away at Paris Saint-Germain and objectives towards Monaco and Lyon.
His rise has naturally attracted Premier League curiosity. Switch insider Dean Jones believes Panichelli “has a profile that might swimsuit the Premier League very properly” and has confirmed that Aston Villa, West Ham and Chelsea are all maintaining tabs on him.
Due to Chelsea’s shut working relationship with Strasbourg, the Blues are anticipated to obtain first refusal if the French facet determine to money in — although such a transfer would virtually definitely spark anger amongst Strasbourg supporters, who’re already bracing for Emegha’s future change to Stamford Bridge.
Ought to Chelsea decide to maneuver in January, Panichelli might shortly change into a number one candidate to unravel their goalscoring woes.
With the Blues crying out for a ruthless finisher, Panichelli’s fast rise could have arrived at precisely the precise second.
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