As reported by Caught Offside, Chelsea are highly impressed with Red Bull Salzburg defender Strahinja Pavlovic. The Premier League are considering making a move for the player to add him to their ranks before the 2023-24 season begins.
Strahinja Pavlovic has finally settled down
Strahinja Pavlovic began his footballing journey with Partizan and made sounding progress. Before the 2019-20 season, Monaco hired his services but failed to utilize him efficiently. Hence, the player made a permanent switch to Red Bull Salzburg in the summer of 2022.
Fortunately, Pavlovic has settled down since that move and has emerged as an exciting talent. He featured in 37 games this season, netting four goals and providing three assists. He averaged 2.6 tackles, 1 interception, and 3.9 clearances per game (stats via whoscored).
The Serbian plays as a centre-back but can also feature as a left-back if required. He is an aggressive minded defender who likes to dominate the opponents. He is fast, physically strong, and has good reach due to his big frame. However, the youngster needs to work on handling his nerves.
A fill for Thiago Silva?
Chelsea’s alleged interest in Strahinja Pavlovic is not surprising. They lost Thiago Silva, who was an integral part of the defensive line and a leader, as a free agent. Hence, the club are bound to bring in a new defender in the summer.
The pick of Pavlovic settles well as the player has the physical strength and technical abilities to succeed at Stamford Bridge. Should he continue to improve his game, the 23-year-old can be a good long-term investment for the Blues.
Pavlovic is valued at £25 million, which shouldn’t be an issue for the English outfit. However, Chelsea will have to beat the likes of Newcastle United and Aston Villa in the race. Not having a Champions League berth could be the only hindrance in the pursuit of the Red Bull Salzburg defender.
