Forget Bailey And Rashford: Chelsea Should Be Targeting Dutch Ace With 30 Goal Contributions This Season

Chelsea have been linked with a couple of surprise names over the past week or so. Aston Villa’s Leon Bailey and Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford have been mentioned as potential transfer targets for the Blues.

It is likely that both players are being considered as potential replacements for Christian Pulisic and Hakim Ziyech, with neither getting much of a look-in for first team opportunities this season.

The reaction from fans to the interest has been underwhelming, to say the least so, in today’s post, we have decided to suggest a potential alternative, PSV’s Cody Gakpo.

Many Premier League clubs, including Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool have been linked with the Dutchman but the Blues, for some reason, haven’t been. Press the next page as we explain why Graham Potter’s side should consider the winger as a possible target.

1) Gakpo Has 13 Goals And 17 Assists Already

The 23-year-old has 30 goal contributions in all competitions this season, which is extremely impressive, considering it is only November. You do have to consider, though, that most of those came in the Eredivisie.

Even so, the numbers do stack up very favourably when compared to Rashford and Bailey, who have 12 and 7 goal involvements respectively for their clubs.

2)  Gakpo’s Passing Numbers Are Far Superior

The winger averages 3.2 progressive passes, 2.08 passes into the final third and 4.72 key passes per 90 minutes for PSV this campaign. Rashford and Bailey simply can’t compete on these figures.

When it comes to key passes, Bailey averages just 1.3 per 90 in the Premier League while Rashford’s figure is a paltry 0.8. The Manchester United forward’s progressive passing is slightly better (1.92 per 90) but Bailey’s number is only 0.98.

3)  Dribbling Ability

Again, Gakpo comes out on top when you look at the dribbling stats, although things are slightly closer here. The Dutchman attempts 4.96 dribbles per 90, with 41.9% being successful.

Bailey attempts slightly fewer (4.46) and has a similar success percentage (41.5%). Rashford is less inclined to run with the ball, averaging 3.12 dribbles per 90 in the Premier League.

4) Gakpo Surprisingly Comes Out On Top In Aerial Duels

The Netherlands international has won 46.9% of his duels in the air this season, which is significantly better than both Rashford and Bailey.

For United in the Premier League, Rashford’s aerial win percentage is only 35.9%, which is surprising for someone who is deployed as a centre-forward, while Bailey struggles even more (26.6%).

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