Paul Merson ‘cannot believe’ Chelsea aren’t targeting Eberechi Eze in a bid to bolster their ‘predictable’ attack.
The Crystal Palace No 10 has been the subject of much interest this summer, with first Arsenal and later Tottenham Hotspur vying for his signature.
He now looks set for a move to the latter, as Daily Mail Sport revealed, with a deal expected to be agreed between Spurs and the Eagles in the ‘next two to three days’.
It’s thought Palace are seeking a fee of around £50m plus add-ons, with the two club’s edging closer to agreeing terms over the move.
But Merson, who is an avid Chelsea supporter despite his ties to Arsenal, cannot understand why the Blues aren’t hijacking the transfer.
Enzo Maresca’s side were held to a 0-0 draw at Stamford Bridge against Palace on Sunday and, given their pursuit of Alejandro Garnacho and Xavi Simons, are clearly in the market for attackers.
Paul Merson ‘cannot believe’ Chelsea are not targeting Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze
The talented attacking midfielder looks set to join Tottenham Hotspur in the ‘next two to three days’
Spurs are believed to be close to agreeing a deal worth around £50million plus add-ons for Eze
Writing in his Sky Sports column, Merson explained that Chelsea need a playmaker to ease the pressure on Cole Palmer to make things happen.
‘I cannot believe Chelsea aren’t going for Eberechi Eze,’ the 57-year-old wrote.
‘I really don’t know what I’m missing. They buy winger after winger, but they need guile. They need more than Palmer.
‘If you get Eze, you then have two players who can break teams down. They are predictable for me, they play with two quick wingers with Palmer trying to feed them.’
Merson went on to describe Chelsea’s opening league fixture as a ‘worrying’ sign of what could be to come given the side’s obvious reliance on Palmer.
‘Chelsea were not good against Crystal Palace, the draw was worrying,’ he added.
‘If Cole Palmer isn’t going to break a team down, I’m not sure who is for Chelsea.
‘Palmer is now the talk of the town in team talks up against Chelsea. Teams are trying to stop him because they think stop him, stop Chelsea.
Merson said Chelsea are too reliant on their star man Cole Palmer, who had a quiet game against Palace at the weekend
The Blues are reportedly working on deals to sign both Alejandro Garnacho and Xavi Simons
‘Stop Cole Palmer will be the message for West Ham on Friday. That’s just how it is. He needs some support, if opposition teams pick him and and mark him well, I’m not sure what Chelsea have.
‘Pedro Neto and Jamie Gittens have pace, but they struggled to beat their defenders on Sunday.’
By the time the window comes to a close, Maresca is more than likely to have both Simons and Garnacho in his ranks.
A deal for the former is reportedly set to be completed following the start of the Bundesliga season this weekend, with RB Leipzig valuing the midfielder at around £60m.
Meanwhile the Argentine Manchester United outcast is thought to have already agreed personal terms with Chelsea, but there remains a gap in the two clubs’ valuation of him.
The Blues will likely have to chop players from their bloated squad before they splash out the £60m United desire for Garnacho.
Todd Boehly and co are reportedly working on doing just that, with up to nine players at risk of being sold by Chelsea before the transfer window closes early next month.
It’s thought the club are trying to arrange sales or loans for Christopher Nkunku, Nicolas Jackson, Renato Veiga, Alex Disasi, Carney Chukwuemeka, Ben Chilwell, Tyrique George and Raheem Sterling.
Following an underwhelming loan spell at Arsenal last term, Sterling is said to be keen on a permanent move away from the club but his £325,000-a-week contract is proving to be something of a stumbling block in transfer negotiations.
Fulham, Crystal Palace and West Ham United are all interested in securing his signature, with the former England international favouring a move to a London-based club.
