Ideal replacement for Fabregas? Chelsea could strike gold by signing this £15million-rated La Liga sensation

Chelsea can strike gold with the signing of Denis Suarez in January

According to the Daily Mail, Chelsea are interested in signing Barcelona midfielder Denis Suarez in January as a replacement for Cesc Fabregas who is set to head for the exit door.

Reports claim that Barcelona rate the 24-year-old Spaniard at £15million while Chelsea have slapped a £11million price tag on Fabregas should any other club try to lure him away from Stamford Bridge.

With AC Milan leading the race to sign Fabregas, the former Arsenal man will be free to negotiate with other clubs in January as his current contract is set to expire next summer but the Chelsea hierarchy is not willing to let him leave until they sign a replacement. (h/t Daily Mail)

A product of Celta Vigo’s youth system, Denis Suarez made his move to Manchester City back in 2011 but he failed to make his cut to the first team on a regular basis, managing only a couple of appearances in the domestic cup competitions before joining Barcelona in 2013. He played for Barcelona’s ‘B’ team and spent time on loan at Sevilla before joining Villarreal in 2015.

It was at Villarreal that he made a name for himself at the senior level. Suarez made 33 appearances in the 2015-16 season of the La Liga, scoring 4 goals and providing 4 assists. However, he did a much better job in the UEFA Europa League, registering a goal and 7 assists from 13 appearances.

Standing at 5ft. 9 inches with a diminutive frame, Denis Suarez is a technically-gifted and tactically-versatile midfielder who is comfortable in attacking and central roles in the midfield but has also been deployed as a right-winger or a wide forward in a  4-3-3 formation.

Blessed with a wonderful technique, Suarez uses his low centre of gravity to good effect, displaying exceptional close control in tight areas and has the ability to create his own space with an impeccable first-touch. Known for his incredible vision, Suarez is a player with a keen eye for a pass and has the ability to slip his teammates in behind the defence with delightful through balls.

The 24-year-old Spaniard likes to keep probing away at the opposition and is also known for his positional play, working those pockets of space in the midfield and drawing the defenders out from their positions. To sum it up, his tactical awareness often allows the others around him to pull the strings.

Essentially a right-footed player, he has also shown the ability to operate as an inverted-winger down the left where he uses his pace and guile to outsmart the defenders. Furthermore, his decision-making in the final third is also of the highest quality and the Spaniard has also shown good composure in one-on-one situations.

Read More:- This defender with £44.5m release clause is Chelsea’s best bet for finding Cesar Azpiliceuta’s long-term successor

To put things into perspective, Suarez would not only be an ideal replacement for the ageing Cesc Fabregas but he can also add another dimension to Chelsea’s attack. The Blues currently do not have an out-and-out No.10 in their ranks and the Barcelona star definitely fit the bill. To add to that, Suarez’s ability to play as an inverted winger down the left will provide Chelsea with a much-needed back-up for Eden Hazard as Willian has struggled for form this season.

Hence, Chelsea can do their chances of challenging for the Premier League title a world of good by snapping up the out of favour Barcelona star in January.