There is no purpose dressing it up, Chelsea have made quite a few mistakes in the transfer market over recent seasons.
The Blues also hurried into parting with a world-record fee to signal Kepa Arrizabalaga after losing Thibaut Courtois into Real Madrid.
And, now, the selling of Jérémie Boga seems to another oversight on the club’s behalf.
He spent the 2015/16 effort on loan with Ligue 1 Rennes, the next year in LaLiga in Granada and then for the 2017/18 year that he was a Birmingham City player.
He moved away from Chelsea on a permanent foundation, linking Serie A’s Sassuolo in the summer of 2018 for a rumoured £3million. At the moment, it was regarded as a fantastic bit of business, with the Blues banking a nice amount of a player who had made only one appearance for the club.
The French-born Ivory Coast international did not pull up trees throughout his inaugural period in Italy but the 2019/20 effort was a different story completely. Based on reports, Chelsea are seeking to lure him back but they are not the only team with a significant interest in the volatile winger.
Barcelona are considered to be interested in the Sassuolo No.7 and Tottenham Hotspur are keeping tabs on his position, also. But there is no guarantee that a return to Stamford Bridge would appeal to him. He hasn’t shut the door on that possibility, however.
While discussing his death, the Ivorian advised Foot Mercato a return to west London could be on the cards: “It is correct it is a shame. Apart from that, I don’t have any regrets. It was surely not the time for me to play for Chelsea. I keep that at the corner of my mind. If I continue to do what I’m doing, work hard, maybe I will be back one day.”
But why is there so much interest from the fleet-footed Sassuolo winger? And if Spurs and Chelsea go out of their way to sign him?
For starters, it is worth noting that Boga shares a lot of traits with Wolverhampton Wanderers’ muscle guy Adama Traoré and Newcastle United maverick Allan Saint-Maximin.
In today’s game, an increasing number of coaches want their players to be risk-averse. Boga falls in that category, too.
This season, he is attempting eight dribbles (per 90), the most in the league, he has a completion rate of 66 percent, a complete no other player in Serie A can match. The 23-year-old is finishing over five mph 90. Boga is the perfect out ball for a group.
His output has increased also. His return of eight goals is just one shy of his total for the previous four seasons combined. He’s outperforming his inherent numbers, with his anticipated goal participation registering at 0.31. But, even if the Sassuolo man reverted to the mean it’d still be an impressive enough moderate to intrigue a range of clubs.
Boga is not a player you would spend £50million on. The output is not there for him to justify such a fee. However, for around £15million, the cost being mooted in the media, he is an interesting player and a cheap choice for a range of sides across Europe.
