Why Edinson Cavani would be a good fit at Chelsea
According to L’Equipe (h/t Football.London), Chelsea have contacted PSG striker Edinson Cavani regarding a free transfer in the summer.
The veteran striker’s current deal with the French giants is set to expire this summer after having joined them in July 2013. Back in January, Chelsea had set their sights on the Uruguayan in a bid to ease the pressure on their main striker Tammy Abraham. The 22-year-old Abraham has been arguably their best player in the attack, racking up 13 league goals this season.
His standout performances in front of goal have helped the Blues emerge as one of the top-four clubs in the league and climb to fourth place in the table. The lanky striker is currently Chelsea’s top-scorer in the league and has scored 15 goals across all competitions.
Apart from his finishing skills, Abraham’s creative skills have also been on display, with the Englishman emerging the side’s joint second-highest assist provider with four to his name. Abraham has won manager Frank Lampard’s faith with his consistent displays this season, but the regular outings seem to have taken a toll on him.
Also, Abraham suffered a knock and an ankle injury respectively that saw him miss six games between February and March. This opened the doors for veteran French striker Olivier Giroud, who had been restricted to the sidelines until then due to Abraham’s impressive form.
However, he has not been as efficient as the young man, forcing Lampard to look for options elsewhere, with PSG star Cavani being one of his targets in the winter.
Now with his contract set to expire in Paris, and Giroud’s future at Stamford Bridge remaining an uncertainty, Chelsea are once again on the hunt for Cavani. Meanwhile, Chelsea have a second striker in Michy Batshuayi but the 26-year-old has been far from impressive.
So far, the Belgian has managed to score just once despite appearing 16 times in the league. Considering all this, Chelsea buying an established striker in the likes of Cavani in the summer for free seems like a good option.
Moreover, Cavani over the course of his career has proved that he is a top-class finisher. Having played over 556 club matches in his career, the tall forward has a whopping 341 goals to his credit. Also, since his move from former side Napoli to PSG, Cavani has always hit double digits in goals except for this season.
The 2019-20 season saw Cavani fall down the pecking order under boss Thomas Tuchel, with Kylian Mbappe and Mauro Icardi impressing up front. Despite this, Cavani still has four goals from his 14 appearances and there is no denying that he is still a force to reckon with in front of goal. Hence, Chelsea’s pursuit of the Uruguayan makes complete sense.
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Verdict
With Giroud’s future at the club remaining an uncertainty, Chelsea clearly need a back-up for their main man Abraham. And who better than Cavani, who has consistently proven his credentials in the past. Considering the fact that he is available for free, this seems like the best time to rope in the veteran.
