Enzo Maresca’s Blues started the season in red-hot form, dispatching teams and finding themselves second in the Premier League just before Christmas.
However, since then, Chelsea have struggled, dropping points to bottom-half sides and now finding themselves sixth and on the fringes of Champions League qualification.
Cole Palmer has struggled for form in recent months, playing in the middle of the park behind the striker, often dropping deep to receive the ball and aid Chelsea’s progression through the lines.
Whilst his goal-scoring numbers have dropped off, his creativity remains effective, having the joint highest xA (expected assists) in the Premier League this season with 7.9 xA.
With six games to go, it remains in the balance whether the Blues can obtain a precious top five spot, securing Champions League football for next season, in their ability to do so may well impact their ability to sign players this upcoming summer.
Chelsea favourites to sign Bundesliga sensation
According to reports from CaughtOffside, Chelsea are now leading the race and are favourites to sign Borussia Dortmund superstar, Jamie Gittens this summer.
Other Premier League clubs such as Liverpool have shown interest and scouted the 20-year-old winger, but it looks like the Blues may be ahead in the race.
With Jadon Sancho’s future currently in question, the Blues could opt to send the winger back to Manchester United, freeing up funds to acquire Gittens – who has been touted at around £85m – from Dortmund and reinvent the left side of their attacking unit.
Gittens has made 44 appearances for the German outfit this campaign, netting 12 goals, providing five assists and totalling 2,648 minutes played. The English winger came through Manchester City’s academy, much like another one of Chelsea’s superstars.
Gittens vs Palmer comparison
Palmer was, of course, signed from Manchester City back in 2023, joining the Blues for a fee of around £40m plus £2.5m in add-ons. That signing has proven to be well worth the investment made, with the 22-year-old already making 82 appearances for Chelsea, scoring 39 goals and providing 24 assists in 6,575 minutes played.
Goals
0.41
0.41
Assists
0.10
0.24
xG
0.19
0.54
xAG
0.13
0.31
Progressive Carries
5.58
3.25
Progressive Passes
2.07
6.24
Shots Total
2.56
3.65
Goals/Shot
0.16
0.09
Key Passes
1.09
2.54
Shot-Creating Actions
3.66
5.93
Successful Take-Ons
3.73
1.46
Carries into Pen Area
3.08
1.15
When comparing the underlying metrics of both young England stars, you can see how each of their games differ. Gittens clearly excels at carrying, looking to be direct with the ball at his feet, beating players 1v1 and attacking the box. Meanwhile, Palmer looks to express himself through creative passing, creating for himself and others, whilst also not being afraid to pull the trigger.
The 20-year-old has already been described as the “next English diamond” by Saul Morris, via Football Talent Scout, back in 2023. Since then, we have seen Gittens go on to produce some excellent form with Borussia Dortmund, thus earning him recognition from clubs back in England.
If Gittens does join Chelsea, the ex-Manchester City academy duo could be a lethal combination in attack, with Palmer dropping deep and finding those incisive passes in behind opposition defences, allowing Gittens to attack the box and get those shots off.
All the signs then point to this exciting deal proving to be the Blues’ best since snapping up Palmer in 2023.
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