Gonzalo Higuain has been compared to former Chelsea striker Diego Costa by ex-club goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer.
The Argentine forward made the switch to Stamford Bridge this week and will join up with Maurizio Sarri’s squad for the remainder of the season.
Will Higuain have a Costa-esque effect? Five things you need to know…
- Higuain’s loan spell at AC Milan was cut short, with the Juventus forward opting for a move to Premier League side Chelsea.
- The six-month loan deal can be made permanent at the end of the season.
- Diego Costa was highly thought of at Stamford Bridge, with the Spanish international scoring 58 goals in 120 outings for the Blues.
- Known for his aggressive style, Costa won two Premier League titles and the EFL Cup before leaving to rejoin Atletico Madrid.
- And Schwarzer believes Higuain can emulate Costa at Stamford Bridge this season.
Higuain could be in contention for his first start at Stamford Bridge in Sunday’s FA Cup fourth-round tie against Sheffield Wednesday.
The former Napoli man – who worked alongside Sarri for the Serie A club – could become a hit for the west Londoners according to former Premier League goalkeeper Schwarzer.
Schwarzer – who made just four league appearances for the Blues – believes Higuain’s willingness to involve himself in some of football’s dirty work makes him a similar threat to previous Chelsea striker Costa.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Schwarzer said: “He (Higuain) comes across a little bit Costa-esque in terms of (he) likes a bit of a scrap, likes a bit of getting his body on the line.
“I think that’s something they’ve definitely missed. They haven’t been able to replace that physicality side of the game.”
“That’s probably one area where I think he (Higuain) will do well in the Premier League with.”
A key month for Higuain to get scoring
Chelsea’s new man has come in at a time where Sarri clearly had zero confidence in any strikers at the club, with both Alvaro Morata and Olivier Giroud unable to convince Sarri they were the right man for the job.
The Blues are now entering what could be a key month for the Stamford Bridge club, with their Premier League, FA Cup and Europa League places all at risk across the next few weeks.
Sunday sees Chelsea host Championship side Sheffield Wednesday in the FA Cup fourth round, a tie which Sarri’s side should really be winning, but as ever it poses as a potential ‘banana-skin’ match for the London side.
Premier League outings against both AFC Bournemouth and Huddersfield Town are great opportunities for Chelsea to pick up maximum points as they try and cement their place in the top-four.
A league match against Manchester City follows before their Europa League round-of-32 clash with Malmo, with the first leg taking place on away soil.
By the end of the month, we should be able to tell whether it is going to be a decent or great season for the Blues.
The post Schwarzer: ‘Higuain’s ‘Costa-esque’ qualities will serve him well in the Premier League appeared first on Squawka News.
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