Chelsea now enter the race to sign £51m “baller” who’s been compared to Forrest Gump
Chelsea received a boost after the international break, with Moises Caicedo returning to start against AFC Bournemouth, but they are now looking to add another central midfielder to their ranks.
Caicedo made just his second Premier League appearance of the season in the emphatic 5-1 victory Cherries, having been struggling with a calf injury, but in truth, Jordan Henderson was the star of the show.
The former Liverpool man bagged a brace on his home debut at Stamford Bridge, and fired home a stunning free-kick from 25 yards to help guide the Blues to what proved to be a routine win.
Xabi Alonso was full of praise for the midfielder’s all-round performance too, saying: “We signed him for everything. If he’s able to score two beauties like today we are more than happy for him. But apart from the goals he’s done many good things. I think that today was a very complete performance.”
|
Jordan Henderson’s stats vs Bournemouth |
Number |
|
Goals |
2 |
|
Assists |
1 |
|
Aerial duels (won) |
2 (2) |
|
Clearances |
3 |
|
Passes completed |
53/63 (84%) |
However, signing a new central midfielder in the January transfer window may be important to Alonso, considering he was unable to bring in a replacement for Enzo Fernandez on deadline day.
The Argentina international joined Manchester City in a blockbuster deal, and Lamine Camara was meant to be brought in as a replacement, but the deal fell through when AS Monaco attempted to sell Folarin Balogun to Everton instead.
AFC Bournemouth star Alex Scott has been identified as an alternative target, but the Englishman isn’t the only option under consideration, with a Serie A star also in the Blues’ sights.
Chelsea eyeing move for Andy Diouf
According to a report from Caught Offside, Chelsea have now entered the race to sign Inter Milan star Andy Diouf, alongside Premier League rivals Arsenal, but the midfielder remains under contract at the San Siro until 2030.
As such, the Italian side could hold out for around €60m (£51m), and they have no interest in letting the Frenchman leave during the January transfer window, which could pose a problem for the Blues, who still need to sign a replacement for Fernandez.
Not only is the 23-year-old capable of playing in the middle of the park, but he has also displayed his versatility by featuring as a wing-back and full-back, and he has previously been described as a “baller” by scout Ben Mattinson.
The former Lens man has received praise for his work-rate too, with Garenne-Colombes technical director Sebastien Pendola praising him for his running, before adding: “He conveyed his positivity to others. Seeing him play in Serie A and for the national team fills me with pride. He was our Forrest Gump.”
Diouf has displayed his creative talents by picking up three assists in five league outings this season, but given that he only featured for 479 minutes in the Serie A last term, the France international may need to prove himself over a longer time period before Chelsea think about making a move.
