It’s 2018, and for football fans, the January transfer window is finally open. This is the window where teams rectify the mistakes of the previous summer. After storming to the Premier League title last season, Chelsea are an astonishing 17 points off the top of the table. To mitigate the embarrassment of this failed title challenge, Antonio Conte must capitalize on this transfer window and strengthen his starting XI, not just his squad. With rumors of Eden Hazard moving to Real Madrid growing stronger by the day, the Stamford Bridge club are in dire need of a superstar attacking replacement, and Yannick Carrasco perfectly fits that bill as the Belgian is a similar type of player to his national counterpart.
What Yannick Carrasco could bring to the Blues
Yannick Carrasco has always been a highly-touted prospect in European football, but he never achieved the same fame as Eden Hazard, Antoine Griezmann, Kylian Mbappé, or Paulo Dybala. In all fairness, though, he has the ability to match all of those superstars. The Beligian’s only problem is his inconsistency in reaching the soaring heights he once set for himself.
This season, Carrasco has been productive but not electrifying, directly contributing to six goals in his 12 La Liga appearances, with seven of those from the bench. In his 607 minutes of playing time, the 24-year-old has also created 12 chances for his teammates. The man he’s set to replace, Eden Hazard, has scored five goals and assisted twice in 17 league appearances.
What does Yannick Carrasco excel at?
The Atletico Madrid winger has often been cited as a benchmark for dribbling in world football. He uses an exceptional blend of pace and skill to beat his opponents. Combine that with his agility, and you have an unstoppable force. In the Premier League, his pace and world-class control would intimidate most opposing full-backs.
Carrasco excels not only in attack but also defensively, thanks to his current manager Diego Simeone. He has developed a relentless defensive work rate. Off the ball, he presses intensely and shows no lapses in concentration. Despite being integral to Atletico’s attack, Carrasco always tracks back down the flanks.
Areas for improvement
However, for all his good traits, the 24-year-old is far from perfect. His decision-making has often been a point of concern. While he can beat two or three players at a time, he often holds onto the ball for too long, gifting it back to the opposition. He has ruined many counterattacks through inefficiency on the ball and labored decision-making.
Is Carrasco worth it?
All said, Yannick Carrasco would ultimately cost Chelsea more than £60 million, which in today’s market is a steal. He would seamlessly fit into 3-4-3 formation used by Antonio Conte, and with Willian or Pedro on the other side, Chelsea could definitely challenge Manchester City more closely than anyone else in the league.
