BlueCo enter race to sign “best CF in the world” for Chelsea

It has been a roller coaster of a season for Chelsea so far this year.

One week, it feels like Enzo Maresca’s side are on the brink of a crisis, and then the next, they look like one of the best sides in the Premier League.

Fortunately, despite some disappointing results, the Blues sit just six points behind Arsenal at the top of the table, although to further close the gap in the coming months, they need to be more clinical in attack.

The club might feel the same way, as recent reports have linked them with one of the best strikers in the world, someone who’d be a significant upgrade on Joao Pedro.

Chelsea’s striker options

Despite spending as much as they have over the last few years, Chelsea’s centre-forward options are not ideal.

With Nicolas Jackson at Bayern Munich, Maresca has to choose from Marc Guiu, who is not yet ready, Liam Delap, who has had a rough start to life in West London, and Pedro, who has underwhelmed in recent weeks.

So with this in mind, it’s not a surprise to see that the club are interested in signing a blockbuster centre-forward as soon as possible.

At least that is according to a recent report from journalist Graeme Bailey, who has revealed that Chelsea are interested in Julian Alvarez.

Baliey has revealed that the player’s representatives have made it “clear that he is considering his options” and that the Blues are one of several sides “keeping close tabs on the situation.”

While it’s unclear just how much the Argentine striker would cost, he’d likely become one of the West Londoners’ most expensive signings as he only joined Atlético Madrid for around £81m last summer.

With that said, Chelsea should still do what they can to sign Alvarez, as he’d supercharge their attack and be a significant upgrade on Pedro.

How Alvarez compares to Pedro

Now, although Pedro can play in attacking midfield and has done so on several occasions this season, he has spent more time this year and throughout his entire career as a striker.

In other words, his primary role is to score or assist goals for his side, but when you then compare his output with Alvarez’s, he comes out miles behind.

For example, in 30 appearances for Brighton & Hove Albion last season, totalling 2136 minutes, he scored ten goals and provided seven assists, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.76 games, or every 125.64 minutes.

In contrast, the Atleti star ended last year with an astounding tally of 29 goals and eight assists in 57 appearances, totalling 3967 minutes, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.54 games, or every 107.21 minutes.

Then this season, the Argentine has already amassed a tally of 13 goal involvements in 15 appearances, totalling 1216 minutes, which is an average of one every 1.15 games or every 93.53 minutes.

For his efforts, the Blues’ new man has produced seven goal involvements in 14 appearances, totalling 1124 minutes, which is an average of a goal involvement every other game, or every 160.57 minutes.

Okay, so the former Manchester City star is clearly the more dangerous attacker, but who comes out on top when you take a look under the hood, at their underlying numbers?

Well, it’s even worse for the former Seagulls star, as the Calchín-born star comes out ahead in every relevant metric from non-penalty expected goals plus assists to key passes and shot and goal-creating actions, all per 90.

In other words, the former City star is simply better than the Blues ace in every measurable metric, which helps explain why journalist Roy Nemer once labelled him “the best forward in the world.”

Ultimately, while it would likely cost a king’s ransom, Chelsea should do everything in their power to sign Alvarez, as he would be a massive upgrade on Pedro.