4. Jonathan Bamba
Jonathan Bamba has quietly been one of the most consistent players in Europe over the past two seasons, likely because his talent has been hidden away in Ligue 1. Now, though, after a few fantastic appearances with the French national team, Bamba is set for a breakout year that will make him one of the hottest commodities on the continent. Chelsea need to act quickly if they are to sign Bamba for significantly less than he is worth.
The 24-year-old is having the best year of his career so far, scoring five goals and making a league-leading six assists for his surprising Lille side that currently sits second in the French top flight. Bamba has been especially successful because of his tremendous understanding with teammate Burak Yilmaz, who has been one of the lesser known stars of Ligue 1 in 2020. The two have built a strong connection with Bamba bombing down the left wing to create scoring opportunities for Yilmaz.
The most noticeable aspect of Bamba’s game is his speed. Few players can match the Frenchman’s pace with the ball at his feet, making him a constant threat in transition. Moving the ball from defense to attack quickly has been a real problem for Chelsea this season, and adding Bamba to the squad would go a long way to alleviate this issue.
Another facet that Bamba excels at is his defensive work rate on the wings. Despite his diminutive stature, Bamba is an aggressive player who is not afraid to make a hard challenge, exemplified by his successful tackle rate of 55 percent. Since Willian’s departure to Arsenal, Chelsea have missed the Brazilian’s effort tracking back to bother opposing forwards. Bamba can fill this void, and the balance in his game makes him a rare commodity that would be especially beneficial to the Blues, whose fullbacks are known for joining the attack at any available opportunity.
Chelsea should be highly motivated to sign Bamba during the January window, as his price is likely going to skyrocket should he continue his incredible form. He is a real candidate to make the France squad for this summer’s European Championships, where his talent will be on full display for a much larger audience than normal. Bamba could realistically move for €35 million now, whereas his value could double by the summer window. If the Blues are going to make an offer for him, it needs to be done sooner rather than later.