CHELSEA have entered a period of rebuilding after the consortium led by the American Todd Boehly bought the club – and there will be ins and outs over the coming weeks.
The likes of Antonio Rudiger and Romelu Lukaku have already left the club, to Real Madrid and Inter Milan respectively, and there is a need to rebuild certain areas of the squad.
All of this has been further complicated by the news that the new owners have replaced the existing executives, including Marina Granovskaia and Petr Cech, with Boehly himself acting as the ‘interim’ sporting director.
The American has made one of his top priorities recruiting England star Raheem Sterling from Manchester City in what could be a win-win for both parties.
Boehly has done this before at the Los Angeles Dodgers.
He is willing to spend heavily in order to take talent from direct competitors.
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In other words, it makes perfect sense that they would target an experienced international forward from a team that they see as competition for trophies going into next season.
Sterling would be an upgrade for Chelsea in the forward positions.
Towards the end of last season, Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel used the American international Christian Pulisic on the left side of the attack.
While Pulisic is a talented winger, Sterling is a more well-rounded and decisive attacking player.
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1. He scores goals
When Sterling made his move from Liverpool to Manchester City in 2015 he was considered a strong ball carrier who was direct in his approach but who lacked a genuine and consistent goal threat.
Fast forward seven years and we see a much more complete attacking player who has provided a consistent goal threat at club and international level.
Sterling tends to play either from the left side of the attack or through the middle now.
But it is likely that Chelsea would be looking for him to play on the left with Kai Havertz established now as their first-choice central striker.
Sterling has hugely improved his decision-making over the course of his time being coached by Pep Guardiola and he is now a real threat in the attacking third.
Positionally, Sterling tends to prefer to pick the ball up in the channels from where he can look to take the ball in a variety of directions.
He can attack and beat the defender when dribbling on the inside or the outside.
When moving in possession in these areas he is a threat to link with teammates in order to play 1-2’s or to drive at goal to look to create the angle for the attack.
When the ball is on the opposite side of the pitch Sterling will look to hold a wider position on his side.
This allows him to get isolated against the opposition defender when the ball is switched to him.
With players like Reece James who are able to play these switches of play, this would be an effective attacking tool for Chelsea.
Creating chances for Havertz
While Sterling is a threat in terms of his dribbling and shooting in the final third he is also capable of creating chances for teammates.
Given the danger that he poses to the opposition team when he is in possession of the ball, we tend to see Sterling attract opposition defenders towards him.
This, in turn, creates space that teammates can take advantage of in the final third or penalty area.
Sterling has perfected the art of driving to the touchline inside the area and cutting the ball back across goal for a tap in.
This has been a strong source of goals in recent years for City and with Sterling looking like he will move to Chelsea, the same positioning in the channels could well bring the same rewards.
We are likely to see the talented Havertz, in particular, get plenty of chances created from the movement, positioning and creativity that Sterling will bring to the side.
He has developed over his time at Man City into a more complete forward who is capable of creating and scoring equally.
Sterling in Chelsea’s fluid system
While Pulisic performed well towards the end of last season when he was used to the left of the attacking three, we believe that Sterling would provide an upgrade in the position.
The left-sided attacking position for Chelsea varies in the way that it is played depending on the player in that slot.
At times last season, we saw Mason Mount deployed in that role and he played in much more narrow positions – almost playing as a ‘10’ behind the striker.
We are likely to see Sterling play in the channels from where he can take possession of the ball before moving inside or outside depending on the positioning of the opposition defenders.
With Havertz as the centre forward, we are likely to see some interchanging of positions as Sterling has the ability to play on the highest line as the striker while Havertz has the mobility to drop off and occupy space in the final third.
The German also provides more of a threat to play on the shoulder of the fullback or central defender and make vertical runs that access the space behind the opposition defensive line.
His movement creates space from the defender before he then makes a run to look for a longer pass.
These little movements are key in allowing Sterling to make his runs and movements without drawing contact that slows him down.
For all that Pulisic is a dynamic forward, we would argue that Sterling is more effective and explosive in his movements in the final third.
So what does it mean?
There is no doubt that Raheem Sterling is an upgrade for Chelsea.
Pulisic is good, but Sterling is better and if Chelsea want to challenge for the title then they need players that are better.
Does him leaving weaken Man City? Not so much – but does Sterling arriving at the Bridge potentially move Chelsea nearer Liverpool and the champions and further away from United, Arsenal and Spurs? 100%.
It’ll be expensive but it’s also very, very sensible – a bit like sending Lukaku back to Inter.
For more tactical analysis, scouting and stunning data visuals head over to Total Football Analysis
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