How does Kalidou Koulibaly evaluate to Chelsea stars and Huge Six stalwarts?

It got here as no shock that Chelsea had been seeking to signal a brand new defender this summer season, given the shortage of choices accessible to Thomas Tuchel. As has been the norm within the early days of Todd Boehly, they’ve moved rapidly to recruit.

The Stamford Bridge membership has wrapped up a transfer for Napoli stalwart Kalidou Koulibaly, with the deal price £34million.

Koulibaly comes with a stellar fame and had been linked with different high golf equipment in England previously, with Chelsea followers now questioning what he’ll convey. 

Chelsea have signed Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly for £34m to strengthen their backline

His statistics from final season present that Chelsea have landed a formidable presence each on the bottom and within the air – they usually might not be carried out there with regards to defensive reinforcements, both. 

After Nathan Ake determined to remain at Manchester Metropolis, Chelsea will reportedly revive their curiosity in Sevilla star Jules Kounde.

It has been important for the Blues to recruit a handful of latest faces on the again, provided that Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen have already left on free transfers. 

Tuchel was left quick after their exits, though his ranks will likely be bolstered quickly sufficient.

The centre again starred in Italy final season, and Sportsmail has taken a have a look at his statistics

Cesar Azpilicueta, set to be a part of Barcelona in a £7m transfer, has been instructed he can not go away Stamford Bridge till defensive reinforcements have been signed. If he had been to go away, Chelsea would enter the brand new season with a really totally different wanting defence.

Koulibaly, alongside the seasoned veteran Thiago Silva, will undoubtedly be at the guts of this undertaking. He was ever current for Napoli final time period when match, and possesses rather more expertise than those that would look to rival his place. 

Firstly, we are going to have a look at how his numbers stack up in opposition to the membership’s present choices – specifically, Silva, Trevoh Chalobah and Malang Sarr. The latter two gamers earned much less recreation time final 12 months, so it’s price making an allowance for that it will have an effect on the findings.

By way of appearances, Koulibaly made 34 throughout all competitions, lower than Silva’s 48 however greater than the 30 and 21 of Chalobah and Sarr respectively. Intriguingly, he additionally began every of those matches, underling his significance to the Serie A aspect. 

From the video games he featured in, Napoli conceded 32 objectives, 4 lower than the 36 shipped by Chelsea with Silva of their aspect. Once more, the distinction in matches performed comes into play, however the very fact Koulibaly let in lower than a aim each recreation is notable.

Chalobah and Sarr conceded 13 and 16, maybe in consequence of their restricted minutes. 

For tackles, Koulibaly comes out on high with 53. Behind him are Chalobah on 52, Silva on 46 and Sarr with 26. The winner’s sort out success proportion stands at a decent 56.6, however that is dwarfed by Silva’s 69.6 and Chalobah’s 71.2. 

As proven above, the Blues’ new arrival can also be robust within the air, and is not any stranger to throwing himself into blocks and interceptions. He has been overwhelmed in each these areas, nevertheless, by Silva – whose numbers final season had been excellent.

One other facet very important to the variety of play beneath Tuchel is assuredness on the ball, and sharp decision-making. This, fairly merely, revolves round when a participant opts for a shorter choice to accumulate from the again, or as an alternative decides to smash it downfield.

Thiago Silva, regardless of his advancing age, has bettered his future team-mate in a number of metrics

Koulibaly recorded 106 clearances final season, with Silva registering 131. For passing, the previous made 2088, a determine effectively beneath the 3702 of the latter. As a disclaimer, this metric is dictated closely by how every of the groups makes use of the ball.

Lastly, for passing accuracy, Koulibaly’s proportion is available in at 87, whereas Silva’s is 92.7. Chalobah and Sarr’s totals are 89.8 and and 88.7, demonstrating clearly that the defender poised to tug on the membership’s well-known jersey can have to stay composed.

In abstract for the primary desk, the outcomes present that Koulibaly is primed to equip himself effectively to the rigours of the Premier League, even when Silva does typically trump him.

Handily, for additional context, Sportsmail has additionally in contrast Koulibaly to one of the best of the remainder; the standout defenders from the opposite Huge Six golf equipment within the top-flight.

Ruben Dias is certainly one of the Premier League’s greatest defenders, and can go toe-to-toe with Koulibaly

For this, we have now picked out Virgil van Dijk and Joel Matip of Liverpool, Ruben Dias and Aymeric Laporte of Manchester Metropolis, Arsenal’s Gabriel Magalhaes, Tottenham’s Cristian Romero and Manchester United’s Harry Maguire and Raphael Varane.

Once more, the quantity of minutes performed by every of the names above have to be considered, with Van Dijk specifically ever current for his membership final season.

This additionally skews the minutes per aim conceded metric, however there are nonetheless lots of notable findings. Koulibaly, as defined above, averages 94.9 minutes between objectives, a mean of over one entire match, and ranks extremely within the beneath desk.

He is healthier by Van Dijk’s 140 minutes, whereas Laporte (113), Matip (123.5) and Dias (99.7) additionally high his efforts. Manchester Metropolis and Liverpool are likely to assault greater than they defend, although, whereas Napoli usually got here beneath extra strain final 12 months.

Within the clear sheet column, Koulibaly’s 12 is once more center of the street. Van Dijk has 28, whereas Matip on 19, Laporte on 17 and Dias on 13 put them forward of him. Chelsea’s new man does comfortably beat the remaining 4 contenders, nevertheless. 

Koulibaly’s 53 tackles final season is the second highest within the desk, behind the 59 made by the combative Matip. Once more, this may very well be affected by the best way that Napoli set out their stall, however that is an achievement that will definitely please Tuchel.

It’s price mentioning, although, that Koulibaly’s sort out success price, 56.6 per cent, is the second lowest – with everybody bar Laporte bettering his determine final 12 months.

For aerial duels gained, whereas Koulibaly’s tally will not be one for his new supervisor to show his nostril up at, his quantity is overwhelmed by a number of of his top-flight rivals. Van Dijk gained 185 within the air and Matip completed with 140, with each of those numbers bettering 58.

Virgil van Dijk boasts one of the best numbers from final 12 months, however Koulibaly’s statistics are spectacular

A scan down the blocks and interceptions columns exhibits that, in each areas, Koulibaly has lots to convey to his new crew. He ranks second for the primary class, and fourth for the second – once more indicating he has an all-round recreation in his arsenal. 

One space needing enchancment is being dribbled previous by an opponent. That occurred to Koulibaly 17 occasions final season, roughly as soon as each two video games, and, whereas that does not sound poor, others within the Premier League have stood firmer.

By means of comparability, Van Dijk was dribbled previous simply 5 occasions, with the second highest quantity, behind that of Koulibaly, coming from Romero’s 13. Maguire, who was a lot maligned by United supporters for his mobility, was deceived 12 occasions. 

Lastly, there aren’t any main issues within the passing division. As defined above, Koulibaly has demonstrated that he’s adept in possession, as is vital in the fashionable period of the top-flight, and his numbers sit properly alongside his friends.