Why Chelsea would be better off avoiding Achraf Hakimi this summer
As per 90min (h/t Express) Chelsea, Tottenham, Manchester City, Dortmund, PSG, Inter Milan and Juventus have all enquired about acquiring the services of Real Madrid defender Achraf Hakimi.
The right-back, who currently is in Germany with German club Borussia Dortmund as part of a two-year loan deal, will return to parent club Real Madrid this summer.
The Moroccan has emerged as a hot prospect and has made a name for himself during his time at Dortmund. Hakimi has been in great form, having scored 5 and assisted 10 in the Bundesliga so far. He also has 4 Champions League goals to his name.
Should Chelsea sign the player?
Hakimi will definitely be looking for match time and that is reason enough for Chelsea to persuade him to move to London. Hakimi is versatile and has shown that he can play both as a right-back and as a winger.
The young right-back could very well fit into the Chelsea line-up on the right wing. The player has shown that he has the pace to cover large grounds and that can be seen in the heat map above.
Chelsea should definitely look to sign someone like Hakimi. Those watching the Bundesliga would know the player as someone who is very clever with his movements.
Do Chelsea need him?
The right side of the field at Chelsea is occupied by Cesar Azpilicueta and home-grown talent Reece James, with Ross Barkley or Kante fitting higher up the midfield. The question is though, would Chelsea be willing to loan out Reece James in order to fit in Achraf Hakimi? The Moroccan requires game time and that would be his primary asking.
The tenacious right-back can become a good player for any club he joins and comes with the experience of playing at the highest level. As for Chelsea, they need to see how they would deal with the situation since they already have Reece James, who has shown promising results in the chances he has received.
Given that the right-back position is well stocked, it’s a gamble if Chelsea take a punt on Hakimi. This would hamper Reece James’ growth and this is a move that isn’t a necessity for the Blues.
Hence, despite Hakimi’s obvious quality, Chelsea would be better off thinking twice about making a move for him. However, if they wish to sign Hakimi as Azpilicueta’s long-term successor, they can very well do so. It’s a key decision that Lampard has to make.
Read more
- Why Chelsea re-signing Nathan Ake would bolster their defence
- Why a new loan deal for Davide Zappacosta is a wise move by Chelsea
- Chelsea signing 23-year-old English star Ben Chilwell would be quite a boost to a key position
The Verdict
Chelsea signing Hakimi could work if the player continues to play as he is doing now. Azpilicueta is ageing and cannot go on forever. He is 30 years old now and signing Hakimi now would be tricky given the Blues captain still has a few years of football left in him. Would it be safe that the Blues give up on Hakimi now? Probably yes.
