5 factors leading to Chelsea’s pursuit of Mohammed Kudus

Ghana midfielder Mohammed Kudus has attracted interest from several elite clubs in Europe with Chelsea being the latest in joining the list.

On Saturday the Athletic reported that the 22-year-old has emerged as a target for Pochetinho’s side who are willing to make amends for their terrible showing last season.

However, they are also believed to be exploring interests in Crystal Palace’s Michael Olise as well as French attacking midfielder Rayan Cherki.

While all three look promising, it is Kudus who may appear as an all-round footballer for the Blues given his versatility.

Here are five factors driving Chelsea to acquire the talented player.

Could be an option in central midfield

The first reason why Chelsea could double up their efforts for Mohammed Kudus is due to inadequate central midfielders.

Caicedo is expected to join Chelsea with agreement between the Blues and Brighton being the only stumbling block.

However, should that deal materialise, the Ecuadorian cannot pair with Enzo throughout the season considering possible injuries and the number of matches awaiting the London side in the upcoming season.

Kudus may not be a notable central midfielder but he has experience in playing more centrally having done so during his days at Nordjaelland while his ball-carrying strength and swift left foot gives him that advantage to maintain possession.

Can play all attacking roles

Among the two other options on the wishlist of Chelsea, Kudus stands out due to his flexibility.

He simply has a comparative advantage over Olise and Cherki upfront.

Aside from establishing himself as a livewire from the right flank a number of times, Kudus can again be an effective attacking midfielder despite not being a great passer compared to scoring.

This is why Chelsea may be quick to acquire him to avoid any future competitions in their pursuit of the player.

He would be just around 40 for this summer but would have a higher price tag when he joins another team given he continues his remarkable performances.

Player’s zeal to move on

This summer appears to be the perfect time for Chelsea to make the move not only because of the price tag but also because of the player’s zeal to move on.

Despite their early exit, Kudus stood out by scoring two crucial goals which propelled Ghana to their only win at the tournament while assisting their first goal of the competition against Portugal.

Therefore while many have raised doubts about the toughness of the Premier League and how difficult it could be for any player from a different environment to adapt, Chelsea could take solace in his ability to shine on the biggest stages.