Villarreal's Alex Baena celebrates with Yeremy Pino. (Photo by JOSE JORDAN/AFP via Getty Images)
According to Spanish outlet Fichajes (h/t Football.London), Chelsea are set to rival Premier League clubs Arsenal and Liverpool in the race to sign young Spanish and Villarreal midfielder Alex Baena.
Along with the three mentioned above, English champions Manchester City are also in the race for the 21-year-old. The Villarreal Academy product spent the last season on loan at Girona and has become a regular starter for the Yellow Submarine this time around.
Baena is an attacking midfielder and a winger who can play in any position across the final third of the field behind or alongside the number nine. During the first half of this season, he scored nine goals and assisted four in 21 appearances in all competitions.
The Spain U-21 international has a contract with Villarreal until the summer of 2025 (Transfermarkt). It remains to be seen whether any of the English clubs will make a move for him either in January or in the summer.
In terms of attributes, Baena possesses good dribbling skills, has a great chance-creation average, has a good shot in him and is an active presence for the team without the ball.
He seems to be a player with immense talent and a very high ceiling of potential. Chelsea have lacked quality and goals/assists numbers from their advanced midfielders and attackers. They scored only 17 goals in 14 league games before the World Cup break.
If Graham Potter’s men are to succeed and challenge for big titles, they would need more not just from their number nine, but from the supporting cast as well. Baena, in that regard, could be a useful addition to compete with the likes of Mason Mount and co.
Baena can play in any position behind the number nine and supplement in goal-scoring and assists. He is young and will only get better with experience.
Hence, it makes sense why we should go after the signature of this player sooner rather than later.
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