With the multi-team race to sign Paul Pogba which stirred up the transfer market seemingly coming to a finish, it is believed there will be repercussions in other teams with Juventus looking to use the Pogba money to shore up their midfield. Manchester United are reportedly very close to agreeing a deal for the Frenchman and the transfer is destined to take place in a couple of weeks.
Linked distantly with all the hullabaloo over Pogba, is Chelsea midfielder Nemanja Matic, whose future is seemingly up in the air.
Matic was bought by Chelsea for £1.5m in 2009 but was sold to Benfica after failing to make an impact. He was later bought back by Mourinho in the latter’s second spell at the club for £21m which proved profitable for Matic as he won the Premier League title while running the show in the midfield along with Fabregas. But the last season has been a frustrating one for him, with frequent injuries and loss of form plaguing his performances and the overall failure of the team to gel together after their title triumph.
Latest reports have indicated Allegri is keen on bringing the Serbian to the Serie A as he looks to replace the gaping hole which will be left behind after Pogba’s departure. The Juventus boss is said to be impressed by Matic’s midfield presence and it is opined the relatively slow tempo of the Serie A would suit Matic rather than the frenetic nature of the Premier League where he was found out in his second season. While they have already captured Miralem Pjanic from Roma as the playmaker, Matic is now wanted as the anchor in the midfield role.
Over at Stamford Bridge, Antonio Conte has gotten about his summer overhaul by signing a couple of players and is said to be targeting a few more signings in order to challenge for the title. Playmaker Oscar revealed that Conte had set about his team to play in an attacking 4-2-4 formation which differs from the popular notion that the former Italy boss might employ his favourite 3-5-2 set-up.
With Kanté set to start as one of the two midfielders following his £30m transfer from Leicester, there has been increased speculation about the role of players like Fabregas and Oscar after this revelation. While Oscar has failed to perform in a deep-lying role last season, Fabregas has faltered in the role recently. He lacks the defensive discipline and in a withdrawn role fails to affect the attacking play being so far away from the opposition goal.
In such a scenario, Matic emerges as the ideal candidate to partner Kanté in midfield. While he was shackled last season, Chelsea would love to give him a free role in front of the back four and hope he re-discovers his early form in the title-winning campaign.
Chelsea should look to rebuff any bids for the towering Serbian as he is experienced enough to come back fighting after a disappointing season and dominate the midfield once again.
