Why Wayne Rooney would transform Chelsea

Wayne Rooney

Chelsea’s striking shortcomings have been ironically highlighted in the past few weeks, as the Blues drew Galatasaray in the Champions Leagueknockout stages. This of course, means a reunion with Chelsea legend Didier Drogba, a player most Blues fans will be wishing they had right now. The irony is that Drogba could show up Chelsea’s current incumbent strikers and put on a real show, demonstrating the frailties in that position.

Unsurprisingly the media have started to link Chelsea to most strikers under the sun as the January transfer window approaches and one chestnut that won’t go away is Wayne Rooney. The Daily Express reported earlier this month that Chelsea still had some interest in him.

Wayne Rooney comes with plenty of baggage; hefty contract demands, extra attention on the club and the potential for burn-out because of the way he plays. Despite this though he is a world-class player and Chelsea would be severely strengthened if Rooney were to sign for the London side.

So far this season Rooney has racked up a performance score of 353, that’s more than all three of Chelsea’s strikers have managed put together. Whereas Chelsea’s trio have contributed five league goals Rooney has eight by himself. He’s also created more chances than the trio, has a better passing accuracy and has a better shooting accuracy.

Rooney’s work-rate is well documented and is truly phenomenal, Fernando Torres in particular does do a solid shift for his side but it is nothing in comparison to Rooney. The England man would give the Chelsea team something else they’ve been lacking for the last year, a terrifying striker. When Didier Drogba was in his pomp he was a truly intimidating prospect. Even when teams were leading against Chelsea there was always that sense that at any moment Drogba could take the match away from them and hand it back to Chelsea.

Rooney has that same fear factor about him, and playing behind some truly creative players he could become even more lethal. Between them United’s midfielders have created 75 chances (including Danny Welbeck as a midfielder) whilst Chelsea’s have created 135 (including Eden Hazard as a midfielder), a startling difference. It lends strength to Mourinho’s claim that Chelsea are creating more than most, they just lack a clinical forward to finish them off.

Ultimately Wayne Rooney to Chelsea probably won’t happen, deals of that magnitude normally don’t happen in January. Of course with Chelsea there is precedent but if Rooney’s contract situation doesn’t change by the end of the season there could be movement in the summer. That being said if Rooney were to move in January I wouldn’t hesitate in making Chelsea firm title favourites.