Moises Caicedo could be getting a new midfield partner at Chelsea next season as the Blues consider making a move for Brighton & Hove Albion’s Carlos Baleba.
Last term, Caicedo played alongside Enzo Fernandez and Andrey Santos. However, Fernandez was used as a No.10 in some games and could leave Chelsea this summer, while Santos has already departed.
It means Xabi Alonso may need another midfielder, and it is thought that Chelsea are now considering Baleba after having a bid for Bournemouth’s Alex Scott turned down.
But how do the two midfielders compare? The Chelsea Chronicle has taken a look.
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In the Premier League, Caicedo scored more goals than Baleba last term, netting three times. The Brighton man failed to score at all, while he also finished the season without registering a single assist.
Caicedo, who did manage to record at least one assist, did play more games and minutes than Baleba. However, his averages per match were still higher than his.
For example, according to WhoScored, Caicedo made 2.6 tackles and 1.8 interceptions per game, while Baleba had averages of 1.2 and 0.9.
Caicedo also saw more of the ball, but that is to be expected playing in a side who usually dominate most of the possession like Chelsea.
The Ecuador international completed 62.2 passes per game and had a pass success rate of 91.7%. Baleba completed just 24.1 passes on average and had a much lower pass success rate of 86.1%.
Who would you like to see partner Moises Caicedo in midfield next season? Carlos Baleba or someone else?
The Brighton star is being linked with a move to Chelsea!
All in all, Baleba is a quality midfielder and has a lot of potential. But the 22-year-old has a long way to go before he reaches Caicedo’s level.
Perhaps Caicedo could be his mentor, but that would obviously require Chelsea to get a deal over the line first.
While there does appear to be some interest in Baleba, Chelsea seem to be prioritising Scott. They have had little success there, though, meaning the club may very well have to consider alternatives like Baleba.
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