How does Dzeko compare to Chelsea's other transfer targets?

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Antonio Conte has been linked with a number of target men this January transfer window, as the goals have dried up for Alvaro Morata and Michy Batshuayi is not trusted to lead the line.

They have agreed a £44m deal for Edin Dzeko and Emerson Palmieri, with personal terms still yet to be agreed.

But how does Dzeko compare with the other target men that Chelsea were linked with?

Chelsea’s lack of funds, shown by their disinterest in Alexis Sanchez and need for Premier League experience has narrowed down their list of potential targets to a surprising quartet of Premier League options outside of the big Bosnian.

Dzeko’s minutes is superior to Andy Carroll, Peter Crouch, Ashley Barnes and Christian Benteke’s but he blows the other men out of the water where it matters: Dzeko has contributed to 12 goals this season, whereas the other four combine for just 15 goal contributions between them.

Benteke’s assist tally makes him look creative but those assists have only come from 15 chances created, meaning the quality of his final ball is next to none or his teammates are helping fluff his stats with a display of clinical finishing.

The six foot seven inches of Peter Crouch is second to Christian Benteke’s and his six foot three frame in terms of aerial duels won, but Crouch edges him out in percentage of duels won with his 65.45% to Benteke’s 53.62%.

Ashley Barnes, the smallest of the quintet at six foot one, has won the fewest aerial duels with 47 and he wins less than one in three leaps, with a aerial duel percentage of only 27.98 percent.

Crouch leads the way for headed goals, with two from only nine shots inside the area. Andy Carroll has had the most shots outside the box per attempt, with 44% of his shots coming from range.

Everyone loves to watch a ‘centre-forward’s challenge’ and Benteke is the best at them with five bookings so far this season for bad tackles. Crouch and Dzeko are the most tame with just one yellow card each.

It looks like Chelsea have made the right choice with Dzeko. He already has Premier League experience, he is in fine form and he should join for a respectable price in this currently hyper-inflated market.

His age (31) is the biggest drawback for the Blues, but for a man not reliant on pace, he could easily play for a few more years at a top level in the Premier League, allowing Alvaro Morata to blossom into one of the best strikers in the English top-flight.