Rumours are rife that Chelsea FC will bid for Karim Benzema in the January transfer window. A look at the proposed move if it goes through.
Jose Mourinhoai??i??s new Chelsea has not had it easy. The new Chelsea stands fifth in the Premier League table and Mourinho must be a little worried he hasnai??i??t been able to pick up where he left of six years ago when he left Stamford Bridge for the first time. What he has banked on as the ai???The Happy Oneai??i?? is youth and the same Chelsea backbone that saw him manage the Blues to Premier League championships in consecutive years. Mourinho has stuck with John Terry and Frank Lampard in his playing eleven, but must miss his ace striker Didier Drogba in the squad.
Striking Woes at Chelsea
Drogba, Lampard and Terry formed the backbone of the Chelsea side that scored goals, shut out oppositions and won them games. Goals from forwards however, have dried up recently. Out of the 16 goals scored by Chelsea this season in all competitions, only two have been scored by forwards (Fernando Torres on both occasions). Torres hasnai??i??t been able to get into his goalscoring form from Liverpool even now, two and a half years after being valued at 50 million pounds. Mourinho hasnai??i??t been able to get much out of Torres and now rumours are that he might turn to Karim Benzema, with whom he worked as Real Madrid manager.
The 25 year old Frenchman hasnai??i??t had the best of starts under new boss Carlo Ancelotti. Benzema has not scored for five consecutive games now and there is talk of Morata being given the nod ahead of him at Madrid. Mourinho would certainly be interested in bringing Benzema to Stamford Bridge to a squad already light on the striking front. Demba Ba has been ineffectual since January, Etoai??i??o is still fitting in after transferring to the Premiership after his stint in Russiaai??i??s admittedly slower league and although Torresai??i??s all round forward play has improved, there are still facets of his game that need improving.
What Benzema will bring to Chelsea
Benzema is certainly a player who will provide Chelsea more in terms of strength and build up of play. Adept at holding the ball up for his teammates, Benzema would fit like a glove into the Chelsea style of play with Oscar, Lampard and Hazard looking to feed off the striker. Benzema certainly possesses more awareness than Torres when it comes to playing the final pass to a teammate to finish. Another advantage of having Benzema in the team is his counter attacking ability. Torres may be fast but Benzema would bring with him the experience of being a part of the Real Madrid front-line famed for their counter attacking approach. A clinical finisher in the box, Benzema needs a fresh lease of life after his spell at the Bernabeu, where he is being looked to be replaced after his disappointing performances. Benzema has scored 57 goals in 131 games for Los Blancos, but more is clearly expected of him. Real Madrid, in fact are looking to get Luis Suarez to Madrid in January and this should be the cue for Benzema to go through the door the same way Mesut Ozil left as Gareth Bale was brought in. And if recent performances are anything to go by, the move to Arsenal has worked fantastically well for Ozil.
This is not to say that Chelsea would be Benzemaai??i??s first choice. Even when Mourinho was at the Bernabeu, Benzema did not share the same relationship with him as Drogba or Lampard did at Chelsea. In fact, at one point Benzema had complained that he was playing second fiddle to Gonzalo Higuain, now ruling the roost at Napoli. Mourinho understands his need to buy a new striker and Karim Benzema does fit the bill in all ways. However, he will have to work hard to land the Frenchman at Stamford Bridge, especially with Benzemaai??i??s compatriot Arsene Wenger looking to strengthen the Arsenal frontline, already short in numbers. Mourinho would be hoping his stint as Real Madrid boss would tip the scales in favour of Benzema coming over to Chelsea in the January transfer window.
We leave you with a reminder of what Benzema is capable of and how he would suit Chelsea’s playing style should the move materialize.
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