LISBON, PORTUGAL – MARCH 15: Geovany Quenda of Sporting in action during the Liga Portugal Betclic … More
The summer transfer window won’t open for another three months, but Chelsea has already been busy in the market. The Blues confirmed the capture of Geovany Quenda and Dario Essugo from Sporting CP last week with the Stamford Bridge club stumping up a combined £62.4m for the pair who will join in the summer.
Quenda is a particularly notable signing. The 17-year-old is widely seen as one of the brightest young wingers in European soccer and had been linked with a move to Manchester United where he would have been reunited with Ruben Amorim. Instead, Chelsea won the race to land the Portuguese U21 international.
LONDON, ENGLAND – MARCH 16: Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca applauds the away fans after the Premier … More
For Sporting CP, Quenda has performed well on the right wing as a wing back. He has the mobility to get up and down the pitch and has contributed four assists in the league. It’s easy to see why Chelsea has moved so quickly with Enzo Maresca desperate for a wide difference-maker in his team.
Chelsea has wingers. Noni Madueke, Pedro Neto, Christopher Nkunku and Jadon Sancho have all played in the wide areas for the Blues this season, but have struggled to make much of an impression. In fact, recent reports suggest Chelsea will pay £5m to send Sancho back to Manchester United at the end of the season.
This situation has seen Chelsea suffer. Maresca’s style of play sees his team take control of matches through possession, but the Blues have been predictable to play against without much dynamism on the wings. This has been exacerbated further in recent matches when Cole Palmer has struggled for his best form.
LONDON, ENGLAND – MARCH 16: Jadon Sancho of Chelsea during the Premier League match between Arsenal … More
It’s possible Quenda could be used at right back by Chelsea. Maresca has chopped and changed in this position over the course of the season and has even used Reece James in central midfield. On the right side of the defence, Quenda would give Chelsea another way to get into the final third. He could be the Blues’ Dani Alves.
Alternatively, Quenda could be Chelsea’s Bukayo Saka. Mikel Arteta also likes his Arsenal team to control matches through possession, but he relies on Saka to give the Gunners a different dimension. He is the one who makes things happen in the attacking third. Chelsea wants Quenda to be a similar sort of figure.
Under Maresca, Chelsea has made progress this season. The Blues are in contention for a top four place and could finish the campaign by winning the Conference League. However, it’s become clear over the last few weeks that Chelsea needs to continue to evolve to achieve more. Quenda’s signing reflects this.
