(Image): Stats show £18.6m midfielder could be budget Baleba for Chelsea | OneFootball

It was confirmed last night by Sporting CP themselves that Chelsea had completed a transfer deal not just for winger Geovany Quenda but also for midfielder Dario Essugo.

We’ve already heard a little about Quenda here, with Portuguese journalist Mariana Fernandes weighing in. Now it’s £18.6m Essugo’s turn to be looked at a little closer.

While Quenda is a winger playing for one of the strongest teams in Portugal, Essugo is a defensive midfielder on loan at a team battling relegation in La Liga. So their profiles couldn’t be more different in terms of comparison. Quenda has about as much freedom as any 17 year old in the European game, Essugo has a lot more responsibility and is facing a much tougher task.

We really liked this chart made by @FootballEcon_ on Twitter which compared the 20 year old to some of Europe’s notable midfielders, with a particular highlight on Brighton’s Carlos Baleba.

Comparing Essugo to Europe’s best

Dario Essugo compared to Carlos Baleba.

The reporting on the Essugo deal from those in the know like Ben Jacobs has made it clear that he’s going to be seen as a backup for Moises Caicedo as our deep lying, energetic breaker-up of play.

What’s interesting is the comparison to Baleba, who Brighton bought to replace Caicedo when he moved to Stamford Bridge. The Frenchman looks like one of the brightest midfield talents in the world in his age group right now – but Essugo is very similar, at least in style.

Both of them are near each other on this chart, strong in anchoring and ball winning, with decent carrying and less emphasis on chance creation and controlling possession.

Given that Baleba is being priced at near the £100m mark we paid for Caicedo, if Essugo turns out to be even nearly as good we’ve snapped up a great bargain.