Chelsea are buzzing with anticipation over the imminent arrival of Kendry Paez, a player they secured a deal for back in June 2023, alongside Estevao Willian. The club sees Paez as a ‘super talent’, and he has already established himself as a regular for Ecuador’s senior side, playing alongside Moises Caicedo. However, while the club’s chiefs have reportedly already mapped out his future, including the possibility of a loan move to Strasbourg—a strategy reminiscent of the arrangement with Andrey Santos—sources close to the player suggest that all options remain on the table. This could include him being given a real chance to break into the Chelsea first team next season. Despite his impressive statistics, which have even topped previous benchmarks set by the likes of Lionel Messi and Neymar, recent criticism in Ecuador has cast doubt on his influence. Media coverage has noted that Paez’s performances have not been as impactful of late, with him currently representing Ecuador’s Under-20s at the South American championships and being outshone by players such as Deivid Washington in recent matches against Brazil.