Oscar’s €60million purported move to Chinese Super League club Guangzhou Evergrande has finally been wrapped up, with the Brazilian midfielder set to pocket a mind-blowing £400,000-a-week wages at the Asian club.
With that having happened, Chelsea definitely will be missing a talented midfielder who has been of great and quality service since 2012, and here are 3 better alternatives that can be sought after following his untimely Stamford Bridge exit.
3. Diego Laxalt
The 23-year-old Uruguayan can be the perfect man to step into Oscar’s shoes in the Chelsea squad, considering the similar huge talents and qualities both south Americans share.
Laxalt hasn’t had it easy since arriving Europe from Defensor Sporting, having stints at Inter Milan, Bologna, and Empoli before settling down at Genoa where he has quickly established himself as a regular starter.
The versatile Laxalt isn’t only capable of playing as an attacking midfielder, he also is at home on the left side of the midfield, and can be deployed deep in a defensive midfield role.
He has been deployed primarily on the left wing since arriving at Genoa this summer, and has made 17 Serie A appearances, with a goal and 2 assists to his name. Laxalt has also created an additional 20 goalscoring chances.
While Oscar has been berated for his lack of defensive capabilities, evident in his struggles when deployed as a box-to-box midfielder under Conte earlier this season, his fellow south American is the complete package.
He has averaged 4 defensive actions per game in the Serie A, winning 38% of his tackles and also demonstrating his abilities to get past opponents, having completed 60% of his attempted take-ons.
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