Who is Ricardo Rodriguez, the left-back Chelsea have reportedly beaten Arsenal to sign?

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The Sun claim that Chelsea are leading the race to secure the services of Wolfsburg left-back Ricardo Rodriguez in a £21 million move, with Arsenal set to miss out. The former FC Zurich man is expected to complete the switch shortly with Antonio Conte hoping to add depth to his squad in January, and Rodriguez, a set piece specialist, is clearly an indication of that transfer policy.

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What would he bring to Chelsea?

The Swiss international will slot into Antonio Conte’s system with ease, as he has played as a very attacking full-back throughout his time in Germany. Having shown that he has the defensive capabilities to fulfill his duties, he has also shown the threat that he can be going forwards with his powerful and driving runs from deep down the left flank. That is exactly what Conte is looking for to add depth to his squad and offer competition for summer signing Marcos Alonso in the left wing back position at Stamford Bridge.

Is a move likely?

Rodriguez has been linked with a move from Wolfsburg for a couple of seasons now, having previously been linked with Real Madrid amongst others. It seems that the 24-year-old has now reached the stage where he is ready to challenge himself at a higher level and a move to Chelsea would give him the perfect opportunity to do that. The offer of a Premier League winners medal and a shot at the Champions League next season will likely be too good to turn down.

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Verdict

9/10 – This rumour has been going on for a while and it certainly seems likely. Marcos Alonso has done well since joining in the summer but Chelsea need to add depth, particularly if they are going to compete in Europe as well as domestically next season. With Rodriguez’s attacking flair and defensive strength, he would fit the Chelsea system perfectly.

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