Chelsea sit sixth in the Premier League with 48 points from 32 matches. The team have hit a bit of a rough patch lately, winning just one of their last five games across all competitions while shipping ten goals in that period. A 3-0 loss at home to Manchester City last weekend only highlighted the up-and-down nature of their season.
With their Champions League run over after a heavy aggregate defeat to Paris Saint-Germain, focus has shifted elsewhere. The Blues still have an FA Cup semi-final at Wembley against Leeds United to look forward to, but the upcoming transfer window is already casting a long shadow as the club looks to build a more clinical squad for next year.
Chelsea scouts watch Araujo as Blues eye summer move
According to Pete O’Rourke, Football Insider, Chelsea had scouts in the stands at the Estádio José Alvalade for the Champions League quarter-final first leg last week. They are expected to have eyes on the ground again at the Emirates this Wednesday for the return fixture. Sporting’s 26-year-old Uruguayan left-back, Maxi Araujo, is the man they’re watching, though word is he isn’t at the very top of the wishlist just yet. That could change if the manager decides to stick with a wing-back system, a role that suits Araujo perfectly.
Araujo put in a full shift in Lisbon and was inches away from scoring, forcing a massive save out of David Raya before Kai Havertz eventually grabbed a late winner for Arsenal. He was everywhere, winning 22 duels, the most of anyone on the pitch, and actually set a season-high record for fouls in a single Champions League game with seven. Despite the loss, UEFA still put him in their Team of the Week.
The numbers back up the eye test, too. Araujo has four goals and three assists in 23 league games this season. His underlying stats are even more impressive, with his expected goals and assists placing him among the elite for full-backs in Portugal. Tottenham were also sniffing around, but they’ve reportedly moved on to Andy Robertson following news of his Liverpool exit, which seemingly leaves Chelsea in the clear.
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Do Chelsea actually need Araujo, or is this just opportunistic scouting?
The short answer? Chelsea probably do need a player like this, but it’ll come down to the price tag. The coaching staff has shown they aren’t afraid to tweak the system, and a front-footed left-back who can carry the ball and win his 1v1s fills a massive hole in the current roster. Marc Cucurella is the veteran option, but he’s no longer a locked-in starter, and this squad desperately needs more competition in the wide areas.
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There are fair concerns about Araujo’s discipline, as he’s already racked up 12 yellows and a red this season, which might make some nervous during big games. On the flip side, that grit usually plays well in the Premier League. Chelsea’s recruitment has felt a bit aimless lately, so bringing in a player with a very specific, high-energy profile would be a smart move. If the money is right, it’s a deal that makes a lot of sense.
