Stats have emerged today of Manchester United playmaker Juan Mata out-performing his old Chelsea team-mate Oscar in almost every department since last January – just over a year after he was allowed to leave Stamford Bridge for Old Trafford.
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Read on to see how other recently-sold Blues stars are doing in comparison to the main first-choice players in the Premier League leaders’ front four this season…
1) Kevin De Bruyne v Eden Hazard
In overall goal contribution this season, Wolfsburg attacking midfielder Kevin De Bruyne has out-performed his old Chelsea team-mate Eden Hazard so far this term. The Belgian pair are undoubtedly both quality players, but it is currently the 23-year-old Bundesliga ace notching up the more impressive numbers, with 14 goals and 22 assists in all competitions this year, a total of 36. Hazard, meanwhile, has more goals, 17, but less than half as many assists with just 10, a total contribution of 27.
2) Mohamed Salah v Willian
Another strange decision by Chelsea as they loaned out Mohamed Salah without ever really playing him, with the Egyptian making a superb start at Fiorentina with seven goals and two assists in just nine appearances – an average of one goal contribution per game. Willian, meanwhile, has just four goals and four assists in a total of 35 games all season long. Their roles may be slightly different, but one has to wonder if there isn’t space in this Chelsea team for a player with more attacking quality and end product.
3) Romelu Lukaku v Diego Costa
Finally, neck and neck on 24 goal contributions are Diego Costa and ex-Chelsea man Romelu Lukaku. The Spaniard is currently on 20 goals and four assists for the season, showing himself to be a top class performer, but Lukaku has also done well to notch up 18 goals and six assists with a struggling Everton side. Many felt the Belgian deserved more playing time at Stamford Bridge, and it’s hard to argue with the fact that he could well have done even more if he’d had the quality of service Costa had, without even taking into account that he is 21 years old – five years younger than Costa – and has his best years ahead of him.