Chelsea: An outside the box transfer idea for the January window
Chelsea should make an outside the box acquisition in January and acquire Lucas Torreira from Arsenal if his loan deal is cut short in Madrid.
Sometimes a football club has to think outside the box in order to make acquisitions that will fit into the side in January. Chelsea should do just that and try to secure the transfer of Lucas Torreira from Arsenal, should his Atletico Madrid loan be cut short. This could indirectly be a part of the speculated Marcos Alonso deal in some way, shape or form. Why would one want Torreira at Stamford Bridge though? It’s all too obvious, and if you think about it, it makes a lot of sense.
Why Torreira? First of all, he’s a defensive midfielder standing 5-foot-5 (1.66 meters) tall. Maybe that doesn’t fit in with what many have previously suggested the Blues need, but he’s still an intimidating presence in midfield. Torreira is a take no prisoners defensive midfielder. Like N’Golo Kante, Torreira is a piranha in the middle of the park, but different from the Frenchman. He may be on the short side height-wise, but heart-wise, he’s a lion. It’s his attitude that’s the selling point. In comparison to Kante—sticking with his Chelsea likeness—Torreira is, well, shall we say, chippy. He’s ferocious in defense and the Blues lack that ferocity in the present, especially during this losing stint.
Torreira is reminiscent of one of the most ferocious players of all-time, currently the manager of Napoli, Gennaro Gattuso. While Gattuso is taller at 5-foot-10, Torreira exhibits the same tenacity, determination and aggressiveness that the Milan legend did when he played. Regardless of Torreira’s experience with Arsenal, this is exactly the type of player the Chelsea squad needs right now to help provide it has the steel necessary to contest and defeat tricky opponents.
The current Chelsea squad is loaded with talent, but lacks enforcers. Since the departures of John Terry and Diego Costa, the Blues have lacked a player—or players—who will take no funny business from any opposing individual. Chelsea is missing a players who, when they are on the pitch send a message, come into my area at your peril. Torreira could be that type of midfielder for the Blues. He may not have the superlative talent you always hope for, but in defensive midfield, Torreira has exactly what you are seeking: toughness.
Torreira won’t be 25 years old until February, so he’s young, yet experienced. Sometimes a young player just needs to find the squad and the atmosphere that allows him to reach his potential. It is beginning to look more and more like the Uruguayan hasn’t found this in Atletico. At Chelsea, Torreira would have the exact platform on which he could excel. A team that needs the qualities he brings is exactly right for both team and player.
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It’s a well-known fact that big, tough and strong additions are needed in several positions for Chelsea to achieve the goal it seeks. There is at least this one caveat, Torreira would be a smaller, but equally acceptable addition to the Blues in January. Whatever it takes, it would be a plus for Lampard to have Torreira at his disposal.