Why Premier League big boys should rival Chelsea in pursuit of Said Benrahma
Another week, another standout display from Said Benrahma. The Algerian has been central in Brentford's promotion push since Championship action resumed last month. Indeed, the Bees are the only side to win all six matches in that run, scoring 14 times, more than any other side. Of those 14 league goals, Benrahma has had a direct hand in eight, scoring seven, including man of the match showings in wins over west London rivals Fulham, Wigan and, most recently, playoff chasing Derby.
As one might expect, Benrahma is the highest rated Championship player since the league returned with a fine rating of 8.30. If the west London side do secure a Premier League spot, it'll largely be down to the flying form of the mercurial Algerian. That said, even if Brentford aren't promoted, Benrahma is likely to be plying his trade in England's top tier next term.
Chelsea have been courting Benrahma as they pursue a new winger, and understandably so. The 24-year-old now has 17 goals and eight assists to his name in the Championship this season and his flying post-lockdown form has seen him leapfrog Eberechi Eze to top spot as the league's best rated player with a WhoScored rating of 7.54. Brentford are well aware they will find it increasingly difficult to retain the services of one of their prized assets this summer, but conversely; they can name their price for the winger.
The Blues' interest shouldn't come as a complete shock, though having previously been linked with a high profile move for Jadon Sancho, some may be disappointed to see Chelsea seeking to raid the Championship rather than one of Europe's elite sides in their pursuit of a new wideman. Yet, Benrahma is clearly settled in west London, so it wouldn't require a huge upheavel, and the Algeria international is a far cheaper alternative to Sancho.
On the flip side, given the financial impact of the Coronavirus pandemic, teams will need to be savier in the transfer market, so while Sancho is the eye-catching target, Benrahma's potential availability for a quarter of the price should alert a number of Chelsea's top tier rivals. A goalscoring winger who has undoubtedly outgrown the Championship and can beat an opponent with ease? It's easy to see why the Blues are so keen. Starting from the left before cutting infield, maximising a statistically calculated style of play of 'likes to cut inside' - 15 of his 17 goals have been with his right foot - there is a touch of Eden Hazard about Benrahma. That said, Chelsea aren't the only Premier League side who should be keeping tabs on Benrahma.
Of those who are likely to need investment in wide positions this summer, Liverpool, Manchester United, Wolves and Arsenal are four more sides who would benefit from a player of Benrahma's ilk. United are believed to be leading the race for Sancho, despite the emergence and fine form of Mason Greenwood, yet can save their pennies on the England international were they to rival the Blues for the Brentford star.
Benrahma would provide stiff competition for Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah at Liverpool, while Wolves and Arsenal are at risk of losing two star widemen this summer in Adama Traore and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, respectively, and the pair could do a lot worse than dip into the Championship market for the league's top rated player. In fact, the Championship is a division full of blossoming talent. As well as Benrahma and Eze, Matheus Pereira has excelled on his debut season in England, while the former's Brentford teammate Ollie Watkins currently sits alongside Aleksandar Mitrovic in the race for the Golden Boot on 24 goals apiece.
West Ham tapped into the Championship market for Jarrod Bowen in January and other Premier League sides should be following suit, with Benrahma the brighest jewell in the crown. He ranks highly for key passes (86), successful dribbles (117), shots (155) and WhoScored man of the match awards (10), so it's fair to say he has reached his ceiling in the Championship and the next logical step is the Premier League.
Be that in west London or away from the capital entirely, it remains to be seen, but Benrahma is a player who should have more interested parties chasing his services than just Chelsea. What is clear, though, is that he is ready to take his game to the Premier League. Brentford may be the form team coming into the final gameweeks of the Championship season, yet they have a three-point gap to make up between themselves and West Brom in second with three matches still to play.
With a playoff finish likely unless West Brom slip up, they'll need to keep up the momentum is they are to beat off the likes of Fulham and Nottingham Forest and secure a Premier League place for next season. Yet with Benrahma in flying form, that shouldn't be too difficult and provided he can maintain that level of consistency, then it won't just be Chelsea who will be keeping a watchful eye on the Brentford winger come the end of the season, but a number of the Premier League's elite too.
