Photo by Gualter Fatia/Getty Images
Photo by Gualter Fatia/Getty Images
An interesting story has emerged about Chelsea and Nottingham Forest star Morgan Gibbs-White.
Chelsea have bolstered their attack this summer by bringing in Morgan Rogers and Danny Welbeck. Geovany Quenda and Emmanuel Emegha have also arrived after pre-arranged deals from last year.
However, it looks like the Blues were also keen on Gibbs-White at some stage. He could have been a brilliant signing for them, but they do not need to lose too much sleep over failing to sign the 26-year-old.
Asmir Begovic's Chelsea XI for Fulham away
Asmir Begovic's Chelsea XI for Fulham away
Morgan Rogers a better fit for Chelsea than Morgan Gibbs-White
According to the Daily Mail, Chelsea showed interest in Gibbs-White earlier in the summer, but the Forest star wants to play in the Champions League. Again, he is a top player, but Rogers’ arrival easily compensates for missing out on him.
Looking at Chelsea’s squad, they needed someone of Rogers’ profile much more. Both players are attacking midfielders, but Rogers spent a lot of time playing on the left last season. Gibbs-White, not so much.
Ultimately, Rogers has replaced Alejandro Garnacho and is going to start on that left-hand side, with Jamie Gittens likely to cover.
He perhaps would have preferred to be in his more natural No.10 role, and that also would have been the case with Gibbs-White. But Xabi Alonso has Cole Palmer for that position.
Morgan Rogers of Aston Villa on the ball while under pressure from Morgan Gibbs-White of Nottingham Forest
Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images
How Morgan Rogers and Morgan Gibbs-White compared last season
While Rogers may be a better fit for Chelsea, Gibbs-White has been a bit more prolific than his countryman.
For example, he scored 15 goals and provided four assists in 37 Premier League games last season, while Chelsea’s record signing scored 10 goals and provided six assists in the same number of outings.
According to WhoScored, both players completed 1.3 key passes per game, while Rogers had a higher average for dribbles per game (1.1 to 0.8).
They are quite similar players, so again, signing Rogers does soften the blow of missing out on Gibbs-White.