Chelsea opinion: Blues should beat Man City to sign Lautaro Martinez
According to claims from South American source Racing de Alma, Man City and Chelsea are set to go head to head in a transfer tug of war over Inter Milan’s £52million-rated striker Lautaro Martinez.
The 21-year-old Argentine rose to prominence with Racing Club back in his homeland and scored 26 goals from 58 appearances for the Argentine Primera Division outfit in all competitions before completing a mega-money move to Inter Milan last summer.
The youngster has impressed in his debut season in Europe, scoring 9 goals in 31 appearances for the Nerazzurri in all competitions.
Martinez’s strong debut season in Europe has put him on the radar of Premier League giants Chelsea and Man City, though it remains to be seen whether Inter would be prepared to cash in the on the 21-year-old after just a solitary season at the club.
The youngster has been tipped by many to be Argentina’s next prolific No.9 and take over the reins from the likes of Sergio Aguero and Gonzalo Higuain.
The youngster, who has 2 goals from 6 senior international appearances for Argentina, is currently amongst the best young strikers in Europe and he would be a perfect fit for both the aforementioned clubs.
While Man City should look at him as a tailor-made long-term alternative to Aguero, the 21-year-old has all the hallmarks of being the next Didier Drogba at Stamford Bridge.
To put things into perspective, Chelsea would do themselves a world of good by getting their hands on the highly-rated Inter Milan striker in the summer, though the Blues would need to have their two-window transfer ban uplifted or delayed to have any chance at this deal.
Maurizio Sarri brought in Gonzalo Higuain on loan in January following the departure of Alvaro Morata on loan but the 31-year-old has failed to live up to the expectations at Stamford Bridge.
Olivier Giroud’s future is still very much up in the air as his contract is expiring, and although the Blues can use the likes of Mitchy Batshuayi and Tammy Abraham up front next season, someone like Lautaro Martinez would be a better option to spearhead the attack.
The 21-year-old is not only a clinical finisher and a poacher but he also boasts of good well-rounded passing attributes to drop down and play in a No.10 role.
A tricky dribbler blessed with quick feet and plenty of agility and sharpness on the ball, Martinez likes to use his pace and acceleration to run at defenders and dribble at pace.
A technically-gifted striker with a low center-of-gravity, Martinez combines his body balance, upper body strength and exceptional close control to wreak havoc in the final third
His subtle movement off the ball and ability to get his shots away in the blink of an eye keep the defenders on their toes throughout the game. Despite standing at just under 5ft 9inches, Martinez is very strong in the air and often beats tall and towering centre-backs to the aerial balls inside the box.
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Conclusion
Still very much in the developmental phase of his career, one would expect Martinez to reach great heights in his career by the time he is 25 or 26. Hence, Chelsea should look at the Argentine international as a long-term solution to their No.9 woes.
The Blues have enjoyed a decent run in their first season under Sarri but the acquisition of Lautaro Martinez can turn them into realistic title contenders next term. Only if they get the transfer ban overturned though.