Eberechi Eze, Jean-Philippe Mateta, Daniel Munoz. (Offside/Getty Images)
Chelsea’s season has been a mixed bag in almost every sense.
While they’ve reached the Europa Conference League final, their Premier League campaign has been riddled with inconsistency. Head coach Enzo Maresca’s unconvincing, often negative style of play and erratic squad rotation have drawn criticism from both fans and pundits.
Several of the club’s key players have struggled to deliver in the final third. Cole Palmer, the team’s breakout star, went 18 games without a goal between January and May, while striker Nicolas Jackson managed just 12 goals in all competitions, often missing clear-cut chances.
On the wings, Jadon Sancho – on loan from Manchester United – has shown flashes of quality but hasn’t done enough to earn a permanent move. Noni Madueke and Pedro Neto have also been inconsistent, occasionally brilliant but far from reliable. Some of that inconsistency, however, could be attributed to Maresca’s constantly rotating line-ups.
Now, in a bid to solve their attacking issues, Chelsea are reportedly eyeing one of the Premier League’s most in-form players.
Chelsea Eye Eze to Transform Attack
According to Fichajes, Chelsea are preparing to activate the £68 million release clause of Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze this summer. The clause becomes active at the end of the season.
Eze still has two years remaining on his contract at Selhurst Park, but the report claims he has no intention of signing a new deal and is ready to “take a leap forward in his career and fight for titles.”
Manchester City and Bayern Munich – the latter having signed Michael Olise from Palace last summer – are also said to be monitoring the situation.
Eze has been one of Palace’s standout players this season, scoring 14 goals – including the winner in the FA Cup final against Manchester City – and registering 11 assists. His graceful, technically gifted displays under Oliver Glasner have drawn widespread acclaim.
Former Palace striker Clinton Morrison is among those full of praise.
“He’s been phenomenal,” Morrison said in May. “He’s a joy to watch – someone I would pay money to see. He makes the game look easy, effortless, smooth. He’s scoring goals and providing assists. I know him personally – he’s humble, driven, and always looking to improve.”
Exactly the type of player Chelsea have been crying out for.
About the Author
