Pedro and Willian have both played a lot less for Chelsea this season than last term. The 343 always had a space for one of them opposite Eden Hazard, and they both played about the same amount as they each had period of good form.
The change to a regular 352 this season has seen less action for both, and Willian has certainly been the favoured option of the two, coming off the bench far more often than the Spaniard.
🇧🇷 Malcom ✔
🇲🇽 Hirving Lozano ✔
🇪🇸 Kepa Arrizabalaga ✔
🇫🇷 Houssem Aouar ✔50 for the future: ones to watch in 2018 👇 #UCL https://t.co/xHacMreaeC
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) January 12, 2018
It seems as though we may be reaching the end of the former Barcelona man’s time in Blue, and if the transfer team are looking for a replacement they need look no further than the Netherlands, where Mexico international Hirving Lozano is tearing it up in his first season in Europe.
He has 11 goals in 16 league starts, along with 4 assists. Importantly, he has also played on both the left and right wings, meaning he brings some of the positional flexibility that Antonio Conte is such a fan of.
Hirving Lozano
The perfect Alexis replacement…
Plays just like him..
Is already involved in 20 goals in 20 games this season
Has great dribbling skills and scores great goals
But sadly we are linked with Malcom a Brazilian overrated player…. pic.twitter.com/vygboF0fzx— 〽️ (@milan_6064) January 12, 2018
His defensive work perhaps isn’t up to the standards of Pedro or Willian, but that’s something that can be worked on easily, and he has the stamina to be just as effective as those two in that regard.
After moving to Europe for around €8m in the summer, he’s now valued at €22m on transfermarkt, still a bargain for a player with the pace and technique to make an ideal Pedro substitute.
Curiously, Liverpool and Arsenal have been linked with moves for the winger, but not Chelsea. Is this a case of the Blues falling behind in their transfer business once again, or do they just know something we don’t?
