Chelsea want Achraf Hakimi transfer
A report by The Mirror claims that Chelsea are targeting Romelu Lukaku, Lautaro Martinez, and Achraf Hakimi from Inter Milan. Out of this, one names sticks out; and it is that of the Moroccan full-back. The former Borussia Dortmund wing-back just moved to Inter Milan last summer.
And after a season where Inter won the Scudetto, he is being eyed by the Blues. But that has raised questions- if the Premier League side should target the £51.5million-rated Hakimi, who has 4 years still left on his contract, even when they have the young Reece James?
The Blues need options
Chelsea seemingly have pretty good depth in every department as of now. Ben Chilwell and Marcos Alonso compete for the left-back spot while the centre-backs are of such quality that the in-form Andreas Christensen was benched in the UEFA Champions League final. But the right-back spot is one position where they have no options apart from James.
Yes, they do have the ever-dependable Cesar Azpilicueta, but the club captain has majorly started at right centre-back under Thomas Tuchel ever since he took over with his 3-4-2-1 style.
Even before that, Lampard used him in that position this season. Hence, there is an urgency when it comes to providing fresh competition down that right-hand side. (h/t transfermarkt)
Competition and quality for Chelsea
Hakimi is without a doubt a proven wing-back already at his young age, having plied his trade at first Dortmund, and then the Serie A-winning Inter last season, to great success. The biggest thing he will bring to Chelsea will be goals and assists – he had 7 goals and 11 assists in all competitions this season at Inter.
Moreover, this will not be an alien system for Hakimi. Last season at Inter, he was playing down the right-hand side as a right wing-back/right-midfielder in a 3-5-2 formation, which, at least on paper, has a similar defensive structure as Tuchel’s preferred formation. Moreover, Hakimi’s 11 assists at Inter would be second on Chelsea’s list for players with the most assists in the 2020/21 season.
How to overcome a possible hurdle
One possible hurdle that would pop up with Hakimi’s inclusion is the impact on Reece James’ game time. The 21-year-old is one of the most exciting right-backs in Europe right now and was impeccable in the Champions League final against Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City. But that doesn’t mean he should be overworked.
The Blues played 59 games in all competitions last season. Hence, overusing any player, let alone a youngster like James, could result in burnout as well as fitness issues. Azpilicueta is also not getting any younger, with him turning 32 at the start of next season. Plus, the Spaniard has been doing a great job at centre-back.
Read More:
- Three greatest European Championship matches of all time
- Decoding how Leicester lost the top-4 race within a space of 15 minutes against Tottenham
- Who are the favourites for Euro 2021?
Trusting both James and Hakimi with starts every now and then in different competitions can still result in a huge chunk of appearances for both of them.
Not to mention, the increase in competition will help the club a lot in that area because the fight for starting spots has, for long, been a top motivator for footballers. It, however, remains to be seen if this deal comes to fruition. But if it does, it would be a brilliant buy considering Hakimi’s young age and quality.
