Chelsea Transfer News: Stamford Bridge the perfect place for Jadon Sancho to shine

 

Jadon Sancho's miserable time at Manchester United is drawing to a close. There were high expectations for the winger when he moved to Old Trafford in 2021 having scored eight times and provided 11 assists in his final season at Borussia Dortmund. Yet mismanagement meant Sancho failed to replicate his Dortmund form back in Manchester. 

 

A falling out with Erik ten Hag last year saw Sancho return to Dortmund for the second half of the 2023/24 campaign, where he shone to help the German side reach the Champions League final, but both player and manager never really rebuilt their bridges at United. A departure this summer is best for all involved, though whether he'll feel more settled at this chaotic Chelsea side remains to be seen. Out of the frying pan and into the fire... 

 

 

Yet at a team like Chelsea is where Sancho may yet flourish. Enzo Maresca has been handed a bloated squad but it's one being trimmed. Raheem Sterling and Ben Chilwell are among those set to leave, the pair high earners from a bygone regime, and in it's place; an exciting young team that has the individual talent to really hurt opponents. 

 

Pedro Neto has joined from Wolves, the Portugal international quickly making his mark for the Blues having assisted compatriot Joao Felix at the former's old stomping ground at the weekend. Noni Madueke looks set to be given the stage to finally shine at Stamford Bridge after his hat-trick at Molineux. The onus is on the wingers to remain high and wide before drifting inside to cause havoc in the final third. 

 

This was a hallmark of the way the Foxes hurt teams during Maresca's one and only season at the Leicester helm. Indeed, Abdul Fatawu ranked fourth for successful dribbles (90) in the 2023/24 Championship campaign, a metric Stephy Mavididi (69) placed 10th for. Of all Leicester players, Fatawu ranked third (66) and Mavididi second for key passes (72). While Chelsea's wingers are yet to really get going on that front, they are a side that has developed a statistically calculated WhoScored strength of 'creating chances through individual skill'. 

 

While some fans may prefer a more solid plan of attack, allowing the skillful players to bring the chaos in the final third also has its benefits, and it's the latter approach that would suit Sancho. In the Champions League alone last season, no player completed more dribbles per game than the 24-year-old (3.7) of those to make at least two starts in the competition. 

 

 

In the Bundesliga, he averaged 3.4 successful dribbles per 90, and returned 2.4 key passes per 90. If Maresca is prepared to release Sancho from his shackles, either down the left or the right, then Chelsea should welcome the chance to sign the winger with open arms. And that's before you consider the Blues making a move for another striker ahead of the transfer window closing. 

 

Whether it's Dominic Calvert-Lewin or Victor Osimhen who makes the move to Stamford Bridge today, both will benefit from a player like Sancho breaking down the flank before putting testing balls into the box. An example of the effectiveness of Sancho working with a goalscoring frontman comes from the 2020/21 Bundesliga campaign, where six of his 11 assists were for Erling Haaland, that the third best assist-to-goalscorer combintion in Germany's top tier that season. 

 

Chelsea may be well stocked for attackers heading into the death throes of the summer window but a move for Sancho is one that would benefit the player as he looks to rebuild his reputation in England. With Maresca willing to give the wingers the chance to express themselves, Sancho should thrive.

Chelsea Transfer News: Stamford Bridge the perfect place for Jadon Sancho to shine