Chelsea were the standout team from last weekend as they welcomed their former boss Jose Mourinho back at Stamford Bridge with an emphatic 4-0 win over his team Manchester United. The win took them to fourth in the table, just one point behind the top three clubs. However, before the Blues switched to three at the back, they had to deal with a serious defensive crisis. Despite their recent resurgence, defensive reinforcements will be the biggest priority for Chelsea once the transfer window reopens.
A host of central defenders have already been linked with a switch to Stamford Bridge and the latest player to be linked with a move to the West London club is Antonio Rudiger as per The Daily Mail. As per the report, Antonio Conte is a huge admirer of the 23-year-old Germany international and has asked his scouts to keep a close eye on the fit-again centre-back.
The report also claims that Conte had earmarked the German international as a target this past summer only for 23-year-old to suffer a serious knee injury just before the Euros. The young defender burst onto the scene with Stuttgart quite some time back.
Roma secured his signature on loan from the German side back in the summer of 2015 before signing him permanently this summer.
It is quite evident that Chelsea are in dire need of defensive reinforcements and it would make sense for them if they go for a young defender who can be a long-term project at the club. John Terry is turning 36 this December and is serving the final year of his contract. It is unlikely that Chelsea will tie him down with another contract once the current one expires.
Terry is at the dusk of his career but still remains the best centre-back at Stamford Bridge when fit. Gary Cahill looks like a shadow of his former self while it is still hard to believe that Chelsea actually brought back David Luiz this summer whose defending has always been questionable. Rudiger could be a long-term partner to young Kurt Zouma at the heart of Chelsea defence.
Conte likes defenders who have a good eye for a pass from the back and Rudiger is by trade a ball-playing defender.
The German international defends on the front foot and has a brilliant ability to read the game. Last season, he had a passing accuracy of 87% which is impressive for a central defender.
Aerially, he should do better with a frame of 6’3″ but winning 1.50 aerial duels every game isn’t the worst. However, the defender’s best years are yet to come and under Conte, he can become a world beater in the coming years.
