Photo by Chris Lee - Chelsea FC/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Photo by Chris Lee - Chelsea FC/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Chelsea’s pursuit of new defenders comes as no surprise given Xabi Alonso’s start to the Premier League season, in which the Blues have conceded 12 goals. Tyrick Mitchell has emerged as an option.
An England international, Mitchell has emerged as a target for Chelsea, with his future at Crystal Palace in real doubt. The left-back will see his contract expire at Selhurst Park in little over a year’s time.
It means non-English clubs can approach Mitchell on January 1, if he does not sign a new deal before the winter window opens. It also opens up the possibility for Premier League clubs to sign Mitchell cheaply.
Bargain fee revealed for Mitchell, a no-brainer for Chelsea
In the summer, Chelsea signed Pep Chavarria from Rayo Vallecano, and by all accounts, he has made a solid start to life at Chelsea. Chavarria was finally given his first Premier League start against Brentford.
Chelsea signed more experienced players this summer to get SERIOUS! What impact has it made on the team so far? 🤔
A split of four graphic titled: "Has Chelsea's change in transfer approached worked?!" Image shows Emi Martinez, Danny Welbeck, Jordan Henderson and Maxence Lacroix playing for Chelsea.
A split of four graphic titled: "Has Chelsea's change in transfer approached worked?!" Image shows Emi Martinez, Danny Welbeck, Jordan Henderson and Maxence Lacroix playing for Chelsea.
Henderson is and will be brilliant, Lacroix too. Welbeck is decent back up, Martinez has not solved the issues of Sanchez. Think that’s shows it’s the defence and not the GK!
The problem is where Chelsea think they should be: title contenders, when, in fact, they are nowhere near it. Experinced players or not.
I think Welbeck was 50:50. He’s still a quality player and brings leadership and experience. Would rate that signing an 8/10 currently. Henderson I think was supposed to be 90% off field and that’s why I welcomed him. The issue is Caicedo has been injured and we didn’t sign an Enzo replacement so he’ll need to play 🤦♂️
But the goals are flowing, and better players are needed in defence. Alongside Mitchell, the Blues have already been linked with four defensive signings, like Raul Ascencio and Man City’s Abdukodir Khusanov.
Mitchell’s arrival would be a nightmare for Chavarria, replacing him just half a season into his Chelsea tenure having only just won a starting spot. But Mitchell can be bought on the cheap in January.
With his contract running out, Palace are seemingly keen to rake in a fee for the defender, and a fee of between £20m-£25m would be enough to convince the Eagles to sell, according to reporter Ekrem Konur.
The stats: Pep Chavarria v Tyrick Mitchell
The two have done battle before, with Palace overcoming Rayo Vallecano in the Conference League final last season. Chavarria was known for his ground duels in La Liga last season, but how do they compare?
Well, remarkably, Mitchell – who played every single Premier League game for Palace last term – is better when it comes to a winger dribbling past him. Mitchell also makes more tackles, and commits less fouls.
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Defensive & Passing Stats Tyrick Mitchell Pep Chavarría
Tackles / 90 2.82 1.75
Interceptions / 90 0.94 1.07
Clearances / 90 2.74 2.79
Dribbled Past / 90 0.50 0.57
Passes Attempted / 90 30.26 43.00
Fouls Committed / 90 0.69 1.11
Yellow / Red Cards 6 / 0 6 / 1
Chavarria averaged slightly more assists per 90 and given the way Rayo played, which was largely on the counter and direct, he made more clearances. But Chavarria also attempted more passes than Mitchell.
But other than that, Mitchell wins. Much better tackles per 90, better dribbled-past stats, and even his discipline was slightly better. Forgetting Chavarria, signing Mitchell for £20m would be stunning business.
Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images
Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images
Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers and Joao Pedro
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