The signing of Joao Pedro last summer has been one of Chelsea’s best bits of business in recent years, and they are now linked with another player who could make him even better.
While Liam Delap has faltered, Pedro has enjoyed a very strong start to life at Stamford Bridge in front of goal. He has 18 goals and nine assists in all competitions.
Players forming strong partnerships with the Brazilian has benefitted them too. Cole Palmer enjoys playing with Pedro, and Estevao Willian has formed a close relationship too.
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Joao Pedro could be the real winner if Chelsea sign Denzel Dumfries
This will also be a factor considered when making new signings, however the addition of Denzel Dumfries could be one of the best they could make when taking their centre forward into account.
Dumfries has been strongly linked to Chelsea in the past, and has cropped up as an option again after he has reportedly been offered to them by Inter Milan.
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As well as a now illustrious club career, the full-back has played 71 times for his country, scoring 11 goals.
55 of those Netherlands appearances came alongside talisman Memphis Depay, who often occupied a role slightly deeper than a natural number nine, not too dissimilar to Pedro at Stamford Bridge.
In these games, Dumfries has assisted Depay on 11 different occasions, a rate that is unmatched in Premier League history.
For context, the best partnership in the top flight since 1992 is Harry Kane and Heung-Min Son, who averaged an assist between each other every 5.1 games. Dumfries’ with his international teammate records one every five.
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On paper, bringing in a new right-back does not look as if it should be at the top of their list right now given the quality of club captain Reece James.
However, his recent hamstring injury after a spell of games playing at right-back could see a conversation come up regarding his best position.
Injuries seemed to disappear when he was playing the majority of his minutes in central midfield, and a rethink may be required when taking into account the skipper’s future.
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