Chelsea prepared to act as he could resurrect Palmer: targeting “the world’s best player”

Sure! Here’s the paraphrased version of the article, keeping the quoted words intact:

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Under Enzo Maresca’s leadership, Chelsea’s wide players are carefully evaluated as they play a crucial role in keeping the team wide during buildup play, pinning opposing fullbacks, and taking advantage of one-on-one opportunities when available.

Currently, most of Chelsea’s wingers don’t entirely fit Maresca’s preferred profile, with the exception of Noni Madueke, who suits his system effectively.

Pedro Neto and Jadon Sancho bring a somewhat different style, adding tactical variety when necessary.

Adding another winger with a direct style, much like Madueke but positioned on the opposite side, could significantly boost Chelsea’s offense by increasing speed and generating more high-quality opportunities.

Sources in Spain report that Chelsea, along with Manchester City and Al Hilal, are prepared to move for Barcelona’s Raphinha, considering him a key target.

Chelsea had previously pursued Raphinha in 2022, but the Brazilian opted for Barcelona, completing a £55 million switch from Leeds United.

This year, Raphinha has appeared in 49 matches for Barcelona, scoring 30 times, assisting 21, and playing close to 4,000 minutes.

Barcelona remain contenders for a treble, and if they succeed, Raphinha could emerge as a Ballon d’Or candidate at the age of 28.

Palmer began the season well, tallying 14 goals and 9 assists in 39 games, but his recent form has dipped due to tight marking and limited space.

Bringing in a fast, direct winger such as Raphinha could relieve pressure on Palmer by stretching defenses and drawing players away from the center.

Statman Dave even referred to Raphinha as “the best player in the world” this season, citing his direct play, creativity, and impressive scoring record.

Palmer has looked his best alongside Jackson and Madueke—players who make purposeful forward runs and open up space for him.

Adding Raphinha could take Palmer’s performances to another level by increasing Chelsea’s offensive options and making it harder for teams to contain him.

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