Antonio Conte is not too far away from lifting the Premier League title in his first season in charge in the Premier League. But he is already planning for life next season as he is looking to add some star players who can improve the squad and help them compete on all four fronts next season. Conte is hoping to add some solidity to his backline and is looking at Southampton’s Virgil van Dijk as a possible option this summer.
The Dutch defender is currently out injured but has been one of the best defenders this season, before picking up the injury. Almost every top Premier League club has been scouting the 25-year old for a move this summer but Chelsea seem to have taken an extra step towards his signature.
According to reports from the Sun, Chelsea have stolen ahead in the race for his signature as they are ready to offer £50m (his asking price) along with defender Andreas Christensen to Southampton this summer. So how will Van Dijk fit in at Chelsea?
For starters, Van Dijk will make Chelsea that much harder to score against. Conte has developed a system where Chelsea have been able to contain goal scorers, even the most prolific of them, with an experienced backline. But the likes of Gary Cahill and David Luiz may not be playing week in week out next season and club skipper John Terry will also be missed in the next campaign.
Kurt Zouma is still a decent option while Nathan Ake may not be used extensively in the first team yet. Cesar Azpilicueta is the only player who should keep his place in the first team at the back and Van Dijk would walk into the lineup without a fuzz.
Brazil centre-back Luiz has done a decent job at the back this season at the heart of the three-man defence for Chelsea. He is still 30 and has plenty of experience that should see him play for another year regularly under Conte. But as solid as Cahill has been, Chelsea need a more mobile defender on the right side of their back three and Van Dijk will own that place.
He can also play as a sweeper if needed but Van Dijk is a player who will cement his place in no time at the club. He is strong and dominating in the air and is hardly caught out of position. He has not played regularly as a part of a three-man defence but at 25, he is experienced enough to adjust to the needs of the new system.
He could cost £50m this summer but at his age, he is an option for years to come and Conte should not hesitate in spending on the Dutch star this summer. Do you think he is a good option for Chelsea this summer?
