Why are Chelsea targeting Augsburg’s Baba Rahman?

After an impressive showing in Atlético Madrid’s La Liga winning 2013/14 season, Filipe Luís joined Chelsea for a little under £16m, joining teammates Diego Costa and Thibaut Courtois at the English side. Luís, who arrived as a Spanish team of the season member, was expected to make a marked impact at left-back. However, as the London club marched to a domestic double, the Brazilian defender found himself limited to only 9 league appearances, kept out of the team by an out-of-position César Azpilicueta.

Following a frustrating debut season at the Premier League champions, Luís seems set to make a return to the Vicente Calderón in search of a starting place. His departure limits Chelsea to only two senior fullbacks – Azpilicueta, and the bruising Serbian Branislav Ivanovi?. Whilst the young Nathan Aké has provided cover out wide in the past, he is unlikely to be ready to step up in the event of an injury, and as such Mourinho has started the search for Luís’ replacement.

With the right-footed Azpilicueta favouring the right side – a place he is sure to inherit from the aging Ivanovi? – Chelsea have highlighted young Ghanaian international Abdul Rahman Baba as their future left-back. After only 3 seasons in the Bundesliga, the 21 year old defender has impressed with his mature performances, and played a major part in FC Augsburg attaining a spot in next season’s Europa League.

This purchase would be a clear purchase for the future; Azpilicueta, whilst remarkably consistent, offers little in the way of attacking contribution. Baba is the opposite, having attempted the most crosses in Germany last season, with 160. When you add his ability to dribble from deep, with 1.4 successful take-ons per game, the interest forming around this young defender is not dissimilar to that which saw PSG shell out £8m for Serge Aurier last year.

Defensively, Baba is even more impressive. Augsburg commonly set up 4-3-2-1 in the league, in which Baba shares the flank with Tobias Werner. Werner is prone to letting the attack pass him by on the left, which is where Baba impresses with 3.5 tackles and almost 3 interceptions a game. Were Baba to become Chelsea’s starting left-back, it is likely he would be able to provide ample cover as Eden Hazard cuts in from the flanks.

Whilst the departure of Luís may lead to a monetary loss, replacing a near 30 year old with a promising 21 year old is a positive trade. With Chelsea needing depth at the back, and clearly looking to invest in youth for their future back line, Baba Rahman could well become the club’s starting left-back for years to come.