Higuain has agreed a loan move to Chelsea
Chelsea unveiled new signing Gonzalo Higuain on Wednesday night
Higuain netted a whopping total of 36 goals in 35 league outings in
that 2015/16 campaign, romping his way to the top scorer prize and
equalling the Serie A record set by Gino Rossetti in 1928/29.
Chelsea's lack of cutting edge up front has been apparent throughout the season and there is plenty of
pressure on Higuain to hit the ground running in the Premier League, but how does his record compare to the rest of the top six's frontmen since the start of last season?
Higuain's total of 22 league goals in 50 appearances does not make great reading - especially when you consider that 35 of those appearances came for a dominant, free-scoring Juventus side.
A closer look at the stats emphasises Chelsea's issues. They rank second for key passes (289) in the Premier League this season, yet their return of 40 goals is the worst of the top six. Their conversion rate is 10.8 per cent, the 10th-highest in England's top tier, and they have missed the third-most clear-cut chances (37) in the Premier League.
A prolific frontman is therefore a necessity, but Higuain's conversion rate over the last 18 months is a poor 13.9 per cent. Only Giroud (11.4 per cent) has a lower conversion rate among top-six strikers. For context, Aubameyang tops the charts on 24.8 per cent. That said, the former Borussia Dortmund striker is also proof that an ageing striker can succeed in a new league if the system suits him, which is encouraging for Chelsea and Higuain.
Higuain shone under Sarri at Napoli
The pair may have only spent one season together, but Higuain's goal tally in that season shows he can thrive in Sarri's system and that he is a firm believer in his methods. The Argentine has been unable to hit those heights in the last 18 months, but Chelsea will hope he picks up where he left off under his old mentor.
Chelsea's lack of cutting edge up front has been apparent throughout the season and there is plenty of
pressure on Higuain to hit the ground running in the Premier League, but how does his record compare to the rest of the top six's frontmen since the start of last season?
Higuain's total of 22 league goals in 50 appearances does not make great reading - especially when you consider that 35 of those appearances came for a dominant, free-scoring Juventus side.
A closer look at the stats emphasises Chelsea's issues. They rank second for key passes (289) in the Premier League this season, yet their return of 40 goals is the worst of the top six. Their conversion rate is 10.8 per cent, the 10th-highest in England's top tier, and they have missed the third-most clear-cut chances (37) in the Premier League.
A prolific frontman is therefore a necessity, but Higuain's conversion rate over the last 18 months is a poor 13.9 per cent. Only Giroud (11.4 per cent) has a lower conversion rate among top-six strikers. For context, Aubameyang tops the charts on 24.8 per cent. That said, the former Borussia Dortmund striker is also proof that an ageing striker can succeed in a new league if the system suits him, which is encouraging for Chelsea and Higuain.
The pair may have only spent one season together, but Higuain's goal tally in that season shows he can thrive in Sarri's system and that he is a firm believer in his methods. The Argentine has been unable to hit those heights in the last 18 months, but Chelsea will hope he picks up where he left off under his old mentor.
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