It’s becoming almost commonplace for players to be dubbed the ‘next Ronaldo’ or the ‘new Zlatan’.
Luis Muriel is just the latest to be earning favourable comparisons with the legendary Brazilian striker, having scored six goals and assisted another five for Sampdoria this season.
According to CalcioMercatoWeb, that form has helped him catch Chelsea’s eye, and he could cost as little as £24million.
It seems strange that the Blues are being linked with strikers given Diego Costa’s form.
Antonio Conte hasn’t even been able to find room for the forwards he already has at his disposal, £30million man Michy Batshuayi largely confined to the bench and yet to start in the league this season.
Muriel could be too good to turn down, however, and even if signing a central defender is Chelsea’s priority, they’ve definitely got the resources to add to their attack at the same time.
The hitman could also act as a buffer if Costa does decide to move on in the next couple of years, as he’s still yet to put pen to paper on a new deal.
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