Future Chelsea star Emanuel Emegha has been backed to be a major hit after receiving his first senior call-up to the Netherlands.
The 22-year-old will join the Blues from sister club Strasbourg in 2026, to finally put an end to the glaring striker issue at Stamford Bridge.
Emegha will officially join Chelsea in 2026 from sister club Strasbourg
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Emegha will officially join Chelsea in 2026 from sister club StrasbourgCredit: Getty
Enzo Maresca is still waiting for a frontman to be the focal point of his attack, with Joao Pedro more suited to a No.10 role.
The Brazilian has scored in back-to-back Premier League games in November, but had endured a 10-game drought before that.
His chief competition, Liam Delap, is yet to score since returning from a two-month injury, while he got sent off against Wolves last month.
Emegha also started the season with a hamstring issue, but has picked up exactly where he left off under Liam Rosenior this term.
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The Dutchman has netted six goals and registered two assists in his first eight games of the season for Strasbourg, which included a double in Sunday's impressive 2-0 win over Lille.
As a result, Emegha has been called up by Netherlands boss, Ronald Koeman, for World Cup qualifiers against Poland and Lithuania.
European football expert Andy Brassell has told talkSPORT.com that it is all falling into place at the right time for Emegha.
He said: "Everything's coming together for Emegha in that if he reaches the Premier League in 2026 and does well, he's going to be the Netherlands starting forward for Euro 2028, that's pretty clear.
"He's still young, of course. But given his age, he's got a decent amount of experience in French football.
"I think he's a gifted leader of the line. He makes good runs. He's strong. He's a good finisher."
Emegha has received a first senior call-up to the Netherlands squad
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Emegha has received a first senior call-up to the Netherlands squadCredit: AFP
The young striker replaced Wout Weghorst
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The young striker replaced Wout WeghorstCredit: Getty
Emegha vs Chelsea's strikers this season
Ligue 1 and Premier League only
Emanuel Emegha
Matches: 5
Goals: 4
Assists: 2
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Joao Pedro
Matches: 11
Goals: 4
Assists: 3
Liam Delap
Matches: 4
Goals: 0
Assists: 0
Emegha dubbed 'next Zlatan'
Maresca recently caused a stir with his scathing criticism of Delap's ‘embarrassing’ and ‘stupid’ red card upon his return.
However, Emegha has continued to live up to his 'next Zlatan' tag by firing in the goals despite dealing with jibes from his own fans.
Brassell added: "He's ridden out a lot of criticism that to some of the people around him seems unnecessarily harsh since he's chosen to move to Chelsea.
"Everyone knew when he started playing well for Strasbourg that he would end up at Chelsea at some point because they have first dibs because it's Strasbourg and he's a player of very high quality.
"But I think the fact that he got given the captaincy and then a couple of weeks later he's posing at Stamford Bridge with a Chelsea shirt, that upsets some Strasbourg fans.
Strasbourg captain Emegha was called a 'pawn of BlueCo'
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Strasbourg captain Emegha was called a 'pawn of BlueCo'Credit: Getty
"I get it totally. I understand that, but after some Strasbourg ultras [during a 1-0 league win against Le Havre] put up a banner saying he was just a pawn of BlueCo, he was obviously a bit put out by that.
"So when he scored at Paris FC, he took his shirt off and pointed to the back of it and made quite a show of it and all the rest of it.
"Now, since then, he's been partly marginalised because he's been out of the team. Joaquin Panichelli has come in and played really, really well.
"The Argentinian centre-forward has got himself to top-scoring Ligue 1 status. Fantastic performance from him.
"When he scored those two goals at PSG, Panichelli, Liam Rosenior said it was the best centre-forward display that he'd seen in the flesh.
"Seeing as he'd been such a staunch defender of Emegha, that was quite interesting; it felt like they'd moved past Emegha a little bit."
Emegha responded to the challenge of Panichelli (left) by scoring twice against Lille
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Emegha responded to the challenge of Panichelli (left) by scoring twice against LilleCredit: AFP
Emegha will be a massive hit for Chelsea
"But then he comes back in the team, puts back on the captain's armband and scores twice as they beat Lille at the weekend."
"The second one from a really bad back pass by Olivier Giroud, who has not scored in the league since August, by the way.
"Really, I think that underlines not just Emegha's quality, but the attitude that he has and the belief in himself that he has.
"That makes me think that he will be a massive success in the Premier League. Because these moments where he's under scrutiny or he's marginalised, he's got the nuts to step up and say, 'Yeah, okay, this is what I'm made of.'
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"And he proves it every time, and it's super impressive. And so he's got a lot more to say in this season.
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"Bear in mind whether he and Panichelli play together or not, I don't think it really matters because I suspect Strasbourg will go pretty deep in the Conference League.
"So they'll have plenty of games to play. But yeah, I see him being a massive hit for Chelsea."