The Premier League is finally back, and Chelsea kick off their campaign tomorrow afternoon.
It’ll be a challenging game away to FA Cup and Community Shield winners Crystal Palace, but Enzo Maresca’s men look like they could do something really special this year.
They’ve been practically faultless in their short pre-season and the board have only made them stronger with the business they’ve conducted.
Moreover, it appears the club will only make more signings over the next two weeks, with Alejandro Garnacho set to be the next in line.
However, if reports are to be believed, the club is also targeting another international who’d be an even better pick-up.
Chelsea target better signing than Garnacho
Chelsea have been interested in Garancho for some time now, with stories first emerging on the topic back in the winter window.
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However, the Blues have stepped up their pursuit of the Manchester United star in recent weeks, and while some fans are against the move, it now looks like he’ll be making his way to Stamford Bridge before September 1st.
However, the West Londoners don’t look like they’ll be calling it a day after that, as they’re now eyeing a move for another international, someone who’d be an even better signing than Garnacho.
At least that is according to a recent report from BolaVIP, which claims that Chelsea are very interested in Piero Hincapié.
In fact, the report has revealed that the Blues are now ready to pay around €60m for the centre-back, which is about £52m.
However, the same story also points out that while Bayer Leverkusen would be willing to let him leave, they want around €70m to do so, which is about £60m.
Even if Chelsea need to pay a little more than they’d like, they should, as Hincapié is a brilliant player and would be a better signing than Garnacho.
Why Hincapié would be a better signing than Garnacho
Now, the first thing to say is that, while some are opposed to the deal, we do not think that Garnacho to Chelsea is a bad transfer.
After all, even though he played for a truly terrible Manchester United side last season, the youngster was still able to score 11 goals and provide ten assists in 58 appearances, which is not a bad return at all.
However, there are still several reasons why Hincapié would be a better signing this summer, and the first relates to what the squad need.
As things stand, the Blues’ attack feels particularly stacked with quality across most positions, and with Xavi Simons still being linked with a move, it feels like adding even more attack-minded players isn’t a necessity.
On the other hand, the team’s defence has been made markedly weaker by Levi Colwill’s ACL injury, and while Jorrel Hato has joined the team, he’s still just 19 years old and has never played in a top-five league, so throwing him in right away feels like a recipe for disaster.
Therefore, bringing in the Leverkusen ace is a far more pressing concern, and Maresca told the press as much yesterday afternoon, when he openly admitted “we need a central defender.”
The second reason the Ecuadorian international would be the better signing relates to why he would have to start ahead of Hato: his experience.
Bundesliga
115
10
Europa League
26
1
Champions League
14
1
DFB-Pokal
8
0
DFL Super Cup
1
0
For example, across his career to date, the “absolute beast,” as journalist Antonio Mango dubbed him, has made 115 appearances in the Bundesliga, 26 in the Europa League, 14 in the Champions League and eight in the DFB Pokal since moving to Europe.
He’s also no stranger to winning things, either, as he played a pivotal role in the German side’s undefeated league and cup double a couple of years ago.
Ultimately, Garnacho will likely be a good signing for Chelsea, but due to the need for a new centre-back and his immense experience, Hincapié would be a better one.
