Chelsea’s Attack Struggles and Potential Move for Dani Olmo
Chelsea has emerged as one of the Premier League’s more exciting attacking sides this season, scoring 38 goals in their first 19 matches and currently sitting fourth in the standings with 35 points. However, recent challenges have surfaced, particularly against teams that deploy a low-block defense. This has led to frustrating results, including a 0-0 draw with Everton, a 2-1 loss to Fulham, and a 2-0 defeat to Ipswich.
Tactical Concerns and Bench Depth
Manager Enzo Maresca has been making fewer substitutions in these encounters, prompting questions about his trust in Chelsea’s bench strength. This lack of rotation may push the club to seek a game-changing substitute during the January transfer window.
Chelsea Eye Barcelona’s Dani Olmo
Reports from Spain suggest Chelsea is among the clubs interested in Barcelona’s attacking midfielder, Dani Olmo. The 26-year-old, who is also attracting attention from Tottenham, Manchester City, Manchester United, Liverpool, and Arsenal, could become a valuable addition. According to Fabrizio Romano, both Chelsea and Tottenham have made inquiries about Olmo, while La Liga recently rejected Barcelona’s attempt to include him in their squad. This could make a move for Olmo more feasible, leading to increased competition for his signature.
Olmo’s Season So Far
This season, Olmo has made 15 appearances across all competitions, scoring six goals, providing one assist, and playing a total of 813 minutes.
João Félix vs. Dani Olmo: A Comparison
One player who Chelsea brought in this summer to fill a similar role is João Félix, who joined from Atlético Madrid for around £45 million. Like Olmo, Félix has spent time at Barcelona, where he scored ten goals and provided six assists in 44 appearances.
Both players are creative attackers who thrive behind the striker, often finding space to receive the ball. They’ve also been deployed as wide players, drifting inside when the full-backs push forward, effectively functioning as secondary playmakers.
In terms of performance this season, Félix slightly outperforms Olmo in several metrics, though this could be due to his involvement in the UEFA Conference League, which some regard as featuring weaker competition. Nonetheless, Olmo has shown his ability to contribute, scoring more goals than Félix and matching his assists per 90 minutes (0.19). Both players also excel in key creative areas, with over six progressive passes per 90 minutes, more than 1.5 key passes per 90, and over two successful take-ons per 90 minutes.
A Potential Solution for Chelsea’s Struggles
Olmo could offer Maresca another creative option off the bench, as highlighted by journalist Josh Bunting for his performances in EURO 2024. A player like Olmo could provide Chelsea with the necessary spark to unlock well-organized low-block defenses—an area where the team has faced ongoing difficulties.
