Why Chelsea NEED to sign Arsenal's Balogun
Sam McGuire
- Updated: 21 Aug 2023 16:07 BST
- 6 min read
Chelsea have spent over €1 Billion in just three transfer windows but Todd Boehly may be forced to put his hand into his pocket again to finance more moves before this current window comes to an end.
The Blues lost to West Ham United on Sunday and it was a day to forget for a number of players. Enzo Fernandez, after starring in the 1-1 draw with Liverpool at Stamford Bridge, missed a penalty with the scoreline level. Moises Caicedo, the €120m summer signing, come off the bench and conceded a penalty late.
It was an act that allowed Lucas Paqueta the opportunity to make it 3-1 to the hosts and he made the most of it. Axel Disasi, who impressed on his debut last weekend, struggled against the Hammers, winning just two of his ground duels, making zero tackles and committing two fouls on his way to a yellow card.
Mauricio Pochettino’s side had a man advantage for over 20 minutes but couldn’t make it count. You can understand why there are links to Folarin Balogun.
EXCLUSIVE: Balogun agrees Chelsea terms but Blues face Arsenal battle over transfer fee
Chelsea's attacking issues
The 22-year-old impressed for Reims in Ligue 1 last term, netting 21 goals in 37 appearances. He has been linked with a move away from Arsenal this summer with Inter, Monaco and a host of other European teams reportedly keen on the €40m-rated striker.
Chelsea have already reinforced their attack this summer with the additions of Christopher Nkunku and Nicolas Jackson. However, the former is facing a prolonged period on the sidelines after picking up an injury in pre-season while the latter is all huff and no puff at the minute.
He posed a few problems for Liverpool in the season opener but failed to capitalise on the opportunities that fell his way. Against West Ham, the former Villarreal man finished with more tackles (3) than he did shots (2).
For all of the money spent on this squad, the attacking depth isn’t that great. Pochettino has the likes of Raheem Sterling, Mykhalio Mudryk, Noni Madueke and Jackson to choose from right now.
Of those, Sterling is the only option there with goals to his name. In fact, he’s the only genuine goal threat within the squad and he’s yet to even prove he can repeat his Manchester City exploits at Stamford Bridge.
Disasi scored against Liverpool off the back of a set piece. Carney Chukwuemeka netted the equaliser against West Ham and that was more of a moment of magic rather than a well-worked, rehearsed team goal.
In fact, away to the Hammers, Chelsea had 76% of the ball but finished with a non-penalty Expected Goals total of just 1.7. Their threat in the second half was almost non-existent, attempting just six shots and finishing with an xG total of 0.36.
It was after the break that Pochettino subbed on Madueke and Mudryk too. The most alarming stat though is that Jackson, the man leading the line with the team chasing a winner and then an equaliser, didn’t manage a single effort on goal in the second half.
This is where Balogun might come in.
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The solution
The Arsenal forward, who coincidentally is represented by the same agency as Chelsea new boy Romeo Lavia, is a genuine final-third threat. He’s not heavily reliant on his physicality or strength and instead uses his intelligence to wreak havoc in the final third.
While on loan in Ligue 1, he was averaging over 3.6 shots per 90 and, of these efforts, 41% hit the target and worked the goalkeeper. He finished the campaign with an Expected Goals per 90 average of 0.8 and a non-penalty xG of 0.63. So, he’s a high-volume shooter who gets into high-value areas with great regularity.
If Pochettino is wanting to stick with his two-man attack, there’s no reason Jackson and Balogun couldn’t work as a duo. On paper, they complement one another well and it would give the Blues a number of different options going forward.
Jackson does a lot of good in the build-up while Balogun is a penalty-box poacher - 76% of his efforts last season came from inside the 18-yard box.
Arsenal might not want to strengthen a supposed rival but the two clubs have done a lot of business in the past and if the money is right, why wouldn’t the Gunners cash in a player who is seemingly not in Mikel Arteta’s plans? It could suit all parties for this transfer to happen.
