Chelsea FC Transfer Rumors: Key Transfer Targets – Part 1
Antoine Griezmann
Despite being a Frenchman, the 24-year old’s career actually took off in Spain with Real Sociedad in 2005, although he had to wait another 4 years to get his debut for the club in the Liga Adelante (Spanish Segunda Division) in 2009. He became a first team regular from that point on and finally got the world to take notice when he scored an impressive 20 goals in 49 games in the 2013-2014 season while playing from the left flank, with his 16 La Liga goals helping Real Sociedad to qualify for the UEFA Champions League for only the second time in the club’s history.
His performances during the course of the season earned him his first France national team call-up in February 2014 and he was eventually named in Didier Deschamps’ 23-man France squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup where he made 5 appearances.
He was then signed by Atletico Madrid for a reported 24 million pounds in July 2014 and has enjoyed an impressive debut season at Atletico Madrid, scoring 22 goals in 37 league appearances. But unlike in his last 2 seasons at Real Sociedad, he achieved this while playing predominately as a centre forward.
Blessed with searing pace and dribbling ability, his preferred attacking style is cutting in from the left flank, although he is listed as being strong with headers and retaining possession, according to Whoscored. He has also shown a massive improvement in his finishing with a 32.8% chance conversion rate (Chelsea’s Diego Costa had 34.5%), which may have prompted Diego Simeone to play him in attack ahead of Mario Madzukic.
But since he will be expected to play in attacking midfield, his 22 chances created is just over half the number created by Diego Costa (who created 41 chances) and would put him behind 7 Chelsea players in terms of creativity, which is a very poor return. He also isn’t known for his work rate and defensive input, an attribute demanded by Mourinho of his players and he would also have the problem of competing with Chelsea’s Player of the Year, Eden Hazard, for his preferred left-wing position.
His 43 million pounds buy-out clause could also be another factor that could scupper any move for his signature, although his decision to appoint super agent Jorge Mendes (who also manages Jose Mourinho and Diego Costa) to act in an advisory capacity could help boost Chelsea’s chances.
Next: Paul Pogba