Chelsea are scouring the market for new additions, with manager Graham Potter looking to breathe fresh life into the club after a wayward start to the seasonal journey.
What’s the word?
According to Mexican publication El Universal (via Football London) Alexis Vega has notified his homeland club Guadalajara that he wishes to depart in the forthcoming transfer window.
Despite Mexico crashing out of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar in the group phase, Vega was a shining beacon, and has stoked the interest in his services and created a full-fledged blaze, with Chelsea reportedly desperate to pursue a deal.
With Wolverhampton Wanderers also eyeing a swoop for the ace, Chelsea will hope to utilise their financial leverage and pull power to sway the leaves in the grass in their favour and clinch a deal for an exciting flanker.
Pulisic replacement
Chelsea are looking increasingly likely to have a busy shopping spree in January, with Potter perhaps internally attributing the club’s current fall from grace towards certain players wishing to depart.
For example, with Christian Pulisic at the centre of vested interest in his services from several high-profile suitors, with the USMNT ace failing to cement a starting role at Stamford Bridge with any real regularity, a move away could be forged this winter.
Signing from Borussia Dortmund for a lucrative £57.6m in 2019, Pulisic is now reportedly available for £35m, and the Blues could use that sum to swoop for Vega.
Vega, whose contract with Guadalajara expires in 2024, has recorded three goals and four assists across 17 league outings this term, dazzling in his homeland and earning a shot on the international stage.
In Qatar, despite failing to provide any direct contributions, Vega made a real impact for his nation, starting all three matches and averaging 3.0 shots per match, completing 76% of passes as he attempted to create forward openings and providing a consistent threat, as per Sofascore.
And his 3.8 shots per outing in Mexico’s top-flight highlight a frequent eye for goal that could be nurtured and refined under Potter’s watchful eye, with the Blues manager’s philosophy and Chelsea’s standing in the Premier League table providing a perfect platform to continue this promising trend.
The 26-cap gem’s presence and ability on the ball have indeed caught Chelsea’s eye, and he would prove to be a shrewd acquisition for the club if they did swoop, with the likely sale of Pulisic providing the necessary tools to entice Vega to the Bridge and open a new realm of possibility.
With a move to Europe looking increasingly likely, the “versatile” ace – in the words of Pete O’Rourke – would be a welcome addition to any side looking to climb to the front of their domestic scene, and Vega, labelled as “fantastic” by Fernando Hierro, will soon earn the opportunity to prove just that.