Boehly has “hit the jackpot” on wonderkid who may very well be Chelsea’s personal Saka

Chelsea are beginning to take form as probably the most promising groups within the Premier League. New-found fluency and Cole Palmer do not imply the Blues are able to dethrone Manchester Metropolis, leapfrog Arsenal and Liverpool, however the first blocks have been positioned.

Maybe that is one thing of a disservice to the scorching frontline that Enzo Maresca is sculpting. Palmer is the creme-de-la-creme, for positive, however in Noni Madueke, Nicolas Jackson, Joao Felix and Pedro Neto, there’s an unbelievable depth to the standard.

Ahem, that is with out even digging deeper. Simply check out the up-and-coming potential.

Chelsea’s largest skills

The place to start? Chelsea bolstered their expansive Cobham ranks this summer time, buying midfield prospect Omari Kellyman from Aston Villa for £19m and welcoming Barcelona teenager Marc Guiu in a £5m deal, who has been described as a striker with “targets in his veins” by expertise scout Jacek Kulig.

Jimmy-Jay Morgan has three targets already for the U21s in 2024/25, whereas electrical winger Tyrique George has impressed along with his motion and playmaking, notching two assists.

That is with out even discussing Estêvão Willian, a Brazilian sensation, aged 17, whose already been signed for £29m and can be a part of the crew at Stamford Bridge on July 1, 2025.

Estêvão has expertise which are paying homage to one Neymar Jr., and he might be hoping to gentle up the Premier League.

The ahead may be probably the most hotly-anticipated incoming at Chelsea, however he could also be eclipsed by Kendry Paez, a fellow South American who can also be shifting to west London subsequent summer time to hitch Todd Boehly‘s youthful revolution.

Chelsea’s personal Bukayo Saka

Paez can also be within the fledgling part of a profession tantalising nice issues, having signed for the Premier League giants in a deal value greater than £17m in June 2023, when he was merely 16 years outdated.

Like Estêvão, the Ecuadorian prodigy will hyperlink up with Maresca’s squad subsequent summer time, after his 18th birthday. A nifty little attacking midfielder with positional pliability that might be streamlined as he continues to develop into his pores and skin over the approaching years, Paez has already drawn comparisons with Lionel Messi for his silky type of play.

The 17-year-old, technically superlative, has already chalked up 15 appearances for Ecuador, plying his craft alongside Moises Caicedo, scoring two targets and aiding three extra.

There’s an age-belying presence to him that implies he’ll flourish in England’s prime flight. Beginning every of his nation’s 4 Copa America fixtures this summer time, Paez showcased his magic aspect, finishing 63% of his tried dribbles, as per Sofascore, and unleashing 2.8 pictures per sport – scoring one purpose – however his performances underlined a combativeness that units him other than most gifted kids – that and his prodigious expertise, too.

Certainly, the tough prospect averaged three tackles and 6 ball recoveries per outing, additionally profitable 5.1 duels per sport. This far-ranging type of play is one thing that might see Paez bloom into one of many sport’s most interesting, even perhaps emulating Arsenal celebrity Bukayo Saka.

Estêvão has already claimed that the duo may play collectively, for Paez is beginning to function centrally with the best regularity regardless of enjoying loads of soccer at this early stage out on the correct flank.

Even when he would not earn the tag of a winger, Paez’s type bears a similarity to that of Saka, whose enhancements year-on-year for the Gunners haven’t seen him shirk away from the nuts and bolts of his sport.

Saka was described as “probably the greatest gamers on the earth” by his Arsenal teammate Gabriel Martinelli earlier in October and it is arduous to dispute it: the England worldwide has posted 9 purpose contributions from simply seven fixtures as Mikel Arteta’s males chase down the Premier League title.

Arteta’s attacking linchpin is way more than an offensive point of interest, rating among the many prime 15% of attacking midfielders and wingers throughout Europe’s prime 5 leagues over the previous yr for tackles and the highest 19% for blocks per 90, as per FBref.

It actually bodes effectively for Paez’s prospects that he is keen to get caught in and contribute throughout the pitch, displaying a tenacious chunk that has led analyst Ben Mattinson to comment that Chelsea have already “hit the jackpot” on the participant, with the peak of his ceiling clear from the offing.

Paez has already amassed 61 appearances for his homeland outfit Independiente del Valle, scoring 12 targets and including six assists, and has featured 21 occasions within the 2024 LigaPro Serie A, racking up 9 purpose contributions and averaging two key passes and one dribble per sport.

He is acquired an extended approach to go however might be woven right into a Chelsea squad bearing a lot potential, supplied with a platform to showcase his expertise and stake his declare for a starring position in Maresca’s squad over the following few years.

The current seems to be good for Chelsea, Boehly and Maresca, however the future seems to be even higher. The Blues are at the start of one thing particular and wish solely utilise this superabundance of expertise to return to the very prime of the European sport.

A lot high quality, a lot competitors. Paez may simply be the decide of the bunch, although, with the right properties to turn into a celebrity.

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