Chelsea’a finish in the bottom half in the Premier League could mean Todd Boehly will spill money again this summer in hopes of getting the Blues back into the Champions League.
There is no doubt that selling players will be necessary if he wants to keep the bloated side at Stamford Bridge happy, but that hasn’t stopped him from reportedly looking at a number of new options ahead of the upcoming transfer window.
One man who has been linked with a move to Chelsea is Sporting CP midfielder Manuel Ugarte after his impressive performances for Ruben Amorim this season.
Can Chelsea sign Ugarte?
According to a transfer specialist Fabricius RomanChelsea are very much in the “race” to sign the Uruguayan international this summer, although PSG are also showing strong interest.
Ugarte has a €60m (£53m) release clause in his contract at the José Alvalade Stadium, which could represent something of a bargain given the excessive sums Boehly spent on far less established players during his tenure at Chelsea.
Would Ugarte be a good transfer?
The 22-year-old has made 31 appearances in Portugal’s top flight this season, with a rating average of 7.11 from Who scored pointsdespite not scoring a single goal or assist.
Ugarte is a defensive midfielder averaging phenomenal 3.9 tackles and 1.8 steals per game – both unmatched in Chelsea squad.
FBref it also confirms his versatility compared to midfielders playing at a similar level, placing him among the top 1% of passing and tackles completed out of 90, as well as being in the top 3% of midfielders in steals per game.
Earlier in the campaign, when Ugarte was ranked first in the Champions League in terms of tackles and duels won, football talent scout Jacek Kulig called him “midfield machinewhich certainly suggests he has the physical attributes required to succeed in the Premier League.
N’Golo Kante – The Best of N’Golo KanteThe Frenchman’s future at Chelsea is still uncertain, as is the Frenchman’s deal due to expiry in the summer following an injury-plagued season. With that in mind, Ugarte could be a dream replacement at Stamford Bridge.
Kante cultivated a reputation as one of Europe’s best ball-catchers during his time at Leicester City and Chelsea, but at the age of 32, injuries seem to be catching up with him as he has collected just seven Premier League performances so far this season.
Therefore, Boehly should definitely act fast in terms of Chelsea Ugarte’s interest as at 22 he could be a great long-term heir to Kante for the west London team.
