Chelsea were a disastrous whole of last season, not only did they record the worst title defence in the history of the Premier League but in process finished 10th on the table. Conte will take charge of the Blues in the coming few days and he will be looking to restore Chelsea’s lost pride. The bad start to the season last year, was followed by the sacking of Jose Mourinho mid-way throught the season. Guus Hiddink was brought in to steady ship and he did a fairly good job, taking Chelsea from the edge of the drop zone to a face saving 10th place.
It is important for Conte to get the right players in, who can adapt to his playing style. Considering the plethora of players already linked to Stamford Bridge, Chelsea have been reasonably quiet in the transfer window so far. However they did announce that Michy Batshuayi had completed a reported £33 million move from Marseille last week, signing a five-year contract at Stamford Bridge. He became the first signing of Conte’s era. Although the work is far from done, there were reports recently in the media that Chelsea had a bid around £32m turned down for the Portuguese midfielder Andre Gomes, and they are weighing up whether to make a renewed bid.
Gomes had an up-and-down campaign with Valencia but has impressed in France during Euro 2016 and is expected to become one of the Continent’s best midfielders. At the age of 22, Gomes is heading to the very top of the game.
The Valencia playmaker can dazzle with tricks, turns, and infuse the midfield with energy. He has the ability to play anywhere in the midfield, from the more deeper role where he shields the back four, to a more advanced position contributing in the attacking side of things. He is very smart when he has the ball at his feet, doesn’t go for a risky move rather tries to keep everything under control. He is somewhat a hybrid of Matic and Fabregas, meaning he is an excellent passer and distributor, while contributing significantly to the defensive part of the game.
He has superb technical ability, which make him a delight to watch. He is very strong physically, which should lessen the adjustment period, if he does decide to join the London club. Gomes is also much more flexible when it comes to the role he can play in the side and that will certainly appeal for Conte, who sees the tactical side of the game as the most important.
Chelsea’s midfield is not exactly young and vibrant with the likes of Matic, Fabregas and John Obi Mikel. The signing of Gomes could inject some young legs into the midfield, and he could grow with the club.
Chelsea won’t have Champions League football to offer next season, therefore it will be wiser to look for quality youngsters around the world, who can contribute to the success of the club for many years to come and Gomes fits that profile perfectly.