After losing multiple attacking options this summer, Chelsea have compiled a list of attacking players that could bolster the squad, and add competition in the central attacking midfield/right-wing area.

In this article, we are going to look over the three main players being linked to Chelsea in recent days in these areas, which consists of Michael Olise, Mohammed Kudus and Rayan Cherki.

Michael Olise:

The most recent of the names being linked to Chelsea is Crystal Palace’s Michael Olise. The 21-year-old was with Chelsea in the youth ranks between 2009-2016, and this was where he spent the majority of his time in youth football, his younger brother Richard is currently under contract at Cobham.

Olise first broke through at senior level for Reading after playing in their academy from 2016-2019. He made the jump for the 2019/20 campaign. Olise then earned a move to the Premier League with Crystal Palace in 2021, after two impressive seasons in the Championship.

Chelsea are now exploring a deal to bring Olise back to the Blues, as the Frenchman has a reported release clause of around £35m. By bringing Olise back to the club, Chelsea would be acquiring a forward player who is very creative and can play both off the right, as well as behind the striker in central areas.

I believe Olise would be a great addition to play off that right-hand side for Chelsea, as Eriksen did for Spurs under Pochettino. Olise’s creativity and ability to drift inwards from the right-hand side and create chances at volume is what this current Chelsea side lacks a tad.

Olise averages 0.36 assists per 90 (which ranks in the top 93% amongst other attacking midfielders and wingers), he also averages 4.68 shot creating actions per 90, completes 4.35 progressive passes per 90, and makes 3.63 progressive carries per 90. These statistics show how Olise could work coming off that right-hand side, comparable to Eriksen in his Spurs days.

Of course with his 1v1 ability and crossing ability, Olise is also good at playing wide on the right-hand side, and therefore it can make Chelsea more unpredictable in their attacking play, due to the fact that Olise can go either way (down the line/drifting inside).

Olise also produces good defensive numbers for a winger, averaging 1.9 tackles per 90, 0.85 interceptions per 90, 1.51 blocks per 90 and 0.56 clearances per 90. This shows Olise is willing to work hard for the team, and perform defensive actions which is something Pochettino values all over the pitch.

Mohammed Kudus:

Mohammed Kudus is a very different profile to Michael Olise. Where Olise excels in creating chances for his teammates, Kudus very much excels in being the goal scorer from the attacking midfield areas.

Kudus can play as an attacking midfielder behind the striker, on the right-hand side cutting in, or even as a centre forward. The 22-year-old made 42 appearances in the 2022/23 season for Ajax, scoring 18 goals and providing 7 assists.

Kudus ranks in the top 99% for Non-Penalty xG with 0.58 per 90, npxG + xAG (non penalty expected goals + expected assisted goals) with 0.73 per 90, pass completion with 85.5% per 90, and successful take-ons with 4.57 per 90. These statistics show Kudus likes to beat his man 1v1 and score goals, this is also proven by his 3.46 shots per 90 (which is in the top 94% for his position).

The Ghanaian international would offer goals from the attacking midfield position, something Chelsea have struggled with in previous seasons, having only scored 38 goals in the 2022/23 Premier League campaign in 38 games.

However, Kudus does not offer the same creativity and possession build-up levels as an Olise, posting 0.15 assists per 90, performing 3.41 shot-creating actions per 90, making 3.26 progressive passes per 90 and only having 32.98 passes attempted per 90. These statistics all rank below the top 50% in this position.

I believe Kudus would be an excellent signing to replace goal-scoring attacking midfielders Chelsea have lost such as Mason Mount, however, this signing would need to be accompanied by a more creative option, who can contribute to more facets of play, particularly from that right-hand side drifting inwards.

Rayan Cherki:

Last but not least, we move onto the young Frenchman Rayan Cherki. At only 19 years of age, Cherki is showing elite levels of talent for Lyon. Like the other two options mentioned so far, Cherki can play as an attacking midfielder, off the right-hand side, and also on the left.

Cherki made 39 appearances for Lyon in the 2022/23 season, scoring 5 goals and providing 6 assists. Whilst his initial numbers aren’t ground breaking, it’s his creative ability that catches the eye. Cherki is an excellent dribbler, who is good in tight spaces, and has the ability to create chances out of nothing.

The Frenchman posts 0.35 xAG per 90, performs 6.15 shot-creating actions per 90, makes 6.92 progressive passes per 90, makes 6.39 progressive carries per 90, performs 3,8 successful take ons per 90, and receives 12.5 progressive passes per 90. All of these statistics for Rayan Cherki are in the top 95% and above in his position.

These are elite numbers for an attacking midfielder, and they are key statistics for this position. The ability to progress the ball for the team through passing and dribbling with the ball, as well as creating plenty of goal scoring opportunities for the team, is exactly what Chelsea are looking for in forward areas.

Cherki would fit the right wing/right attacking mid hybrid that Pochettino uses in his famous 4-2-3-1 fluid formation. This would give Cherki the freedom to drift inside and link up play with the other forwards, which would allow him to fully maximise his creative ability. This is again comparable to Eriksen for Spurs under Pochettino, as he made this right attacking midfield area his own, drifting inside and becoming the main creative outlet for that Tottenham side.

I believe this right attacking midfield position is where Cherki could thrive for the Blues, however, the one standout weakness is his work rate and defensive numbers.

Cherki makes 0.67 tackles per 90, 0.24 interceptions per 90, 0.29 blocks per 90, and 0.05 clearances per 90, which all rank in the bottom 10% for that position, bar one which is interceptions (this is in the bottom 15%). It isn’t just the defensive numbers that are worrying for Cherki though, as he visibly doesn’t have the workrate of an average Pochettino player either.

Pochettino wants his players all over the pitch, to press and win the ball back in advantageous areas inside the opposition third. This is not something Cherki is accustomed to, and he would have to improve this area of his game to work under Pochettino, as he would be required in specific pressing structures that Pochettino uses.

Conclusion:

Overall I believe all three of these options would improve Chelsea in different ways. As previously mentioned Kudus is a very different profile, and would not address the creativity that Chelsea want to address, and therefore I would only sign Kudus alongside another more creative option (one of the other two options).

In my opinion, Cherki has the highest ceiling in this list of players, and I would make him the number one target. However, Olise at such a low fee, with the talent he possesses would be a very clever buy from the Blues.

If Chelsea manage to acquire one of Olise/Cherki alongside Kudus, this would be extremely good recruitment from the club, adding both goals and creativity in those attacking midfield areas.