Chelsea closing in on January deal for midfield maestro

An analysis of Zenit St. Petersburg midfielder Leandro Paredes, and whether or not Chelsea should make a move for the player this January.

Leandro Paredes isn’t a household name on English shores – mainly because he shunned the likes of Manchester United back in 2017 – but he certainly possesses the skill set to flourish under Maurizio Sarri at Chelsea.

Deployed as a classic Argentinean number 5, Paredes oozes the typical hallmarks of his homeland such as aggression and finesse, and is the link between defense and attack.

Paredes is positionally astute and, when out of possession, can be found stationed in optimum positions to thwart attacks. He is also renowned for a high footballing IQ and choses opportune moments to press and never leaves those behind him needlessly exposed.

Overall, he offers a valuable shield to the defense and, so far this season, has won 38 tackles and made 24 interceptions in the colors of Zenit.

With the ball at his feet, Paredes showcases an impressive range of proactive passing from the base of Zenit’s midfield. His ability to play it down vertical lanes would have the likes of Eden Hazard and Callum Hudson-Odoi constantly zipping about and leave opposition defenses in need of a few post-match Paracetamol.

The former Roma man is also useful from dead ball situations (once scoring directly from a corner), and loves to let it fly from distance if the opportunity arises.

Do Chelsea need him?

It’s clear Sarri’s system relies on a technically gifted metronome, and perhaps too much weight lies upon Jorginho’s slight frame.

A recent dip in form has highlighted some of the midfielder’s shortcomings. Despite hitting more passes than any other player in the division (just three short of 2,000), Jorginho hasn’t contributed a single assist; while, his only goal was a penalty on the opening day of the season. The Italian’s defensive vulnerabilities have also been emphasised on occasion, such as during Chelsea’s league defeat at Spurs.

Paredes is certainly more of an all-rounder than Jorginho and, while he wouldn’t claim to be a better passer of the ball, does boast a more adventurous nature. According to Football Whispers, Paredes tops the charts in Russia for long passes (11.79 per game); yet, although opting for riskier routes, still comes in third place for completed passes (55.24 per 90).

Paredes clearly offers something a little different to Jorginho, and at the very least seems more than capable of deputizing for Sarri’s orchestrator to keep him fresh for the run-in.

Fans will argue the Argentinean’s arrival would block entry to the team for Mason Mount and Ethan Ampadu; but football harbors a culture of immediacy and Paredes may be the man to give The Blues that extra push to guarantee a top four finish this campaign.