According to a recent report by the Daily Telegraph (Paid Subscription Required), Premier League giants Chelsea are said to have been handed the chance to sign Paris Saint-Germain’s veteran Brazilian defender Thiago Silva on a free transfer. The report suggests that the big centre-half is out of contract at the Parc Des Princes this summer, which means that he would be available for free once their Champions League final clash against Bayern Munich is completed later this weekend.
Although the report has clarified that Chelsea are keen on a free transfer for PSG’s Thiago Silva, whether or not he would actually improve the Blues’ squad remains to be seen. It has been suggested that the Brazilian is keen on a move to the Premier League this summer, and his ripe age of 35 isn’t necessarily going to ward away all of the suitors. Chelsea also have a policy in place where they refuse to offer long-term contracts to anyone over the age of thirty, with Willian the latest example of this. While that policy should remain intact, all it means is that Silva will not be a long-term option for Chelsea, and not that the move isn’t possible.
What Is Chelsea’s Current Situation At The Back?
The Blues’ defensive situation has been far from a comfortable one since the start of the season. Not only did they let in the most goals out of all the teams in the top half of the table, but they also dropped a variety of points that should have been in the bag.
The biggest issue was probably the fact that Lampard wasn’t able to arrive at his first-choice centre-half pairing early on in the season. It wasn’t until around a couple of months into the campaign that Antonio Rudiger returned from injury, and the German’s absence hurt them dearly in the early knockings.
The German, despite being the Blues’ best defender by a distance, was criticised quite a bit in the second half of the season because of some bad moments. Kurt Zouma, Andreas Christensen and Fikayo Tomori form the London club’s alternate centre-half options. While Tomori is still far too young to be depended on regularly, Kurt Zouma’s overly aggressive playing style has become a cause for concern. Andreas Christensen is the fourth option that Lampard can choose from, and although there have been multiple questionable moments by the Dane, his biggest issue undoubtedly is consistency.
What Makes Thiago Silva A Good Option For Chelsea?
The Brazilian veteran has been in and around the top of the European game for the longest time now, and there’s no need even to begin questioning all the quality that he would bring to the Chelsea back-line. While the fact that he is 35 already could come as a roadblock, it takes nothing away from the ability he possesses as a defender. Apart from slowing down a bit, Silva’s age has done little to deter his game. The former AC Milan man has been at PSG for eight years since making the switch in 2012 and has faced off against Chelsea numerous times during that stint. With 88 caps for Brazil under his belt too, it’s not surprising that the Blues have registered an interest.
Chelsea Are Keen On Free Transfer For PSG’s Thiago Silva: Should Lampard Go For It?
The recent acquisitions of Timo Werner and Hakim Ziyech added to the departures of Willian and Pedro, means that a new era beckons for this London club. Lampard’s ambitions for the upcoming campaign have been clarified beyond doubt by their sheer presence in the transfer market this season, and if the gaffer gets a few more of his targets, it’s hard to see Chelsea not challenging for the title. With that said though, it must be conceded that unless their defence is solidified, a title-challenge will only be a pipe dream. Silva certainly won’t be the long-term solution they have been after, but as far as quick fixes go, it doesn’t get much better than this for the Blues.
