Chelsea’s need for a new left-back and center-back has caused a serious worry within the Chelsea camp. Several options have been presented for the Blues to consider however their most recent conquests have been for Everton defender, Lucas Digne and Leicester star boy, Wesley Fofana.
Both Marcos Alonso and Saul Niguez have done their best to fill the shoes of Ben Chilwell but both have fallen short in their performances so far. With a title charge in place and pressure to deliver yet another piece of silverware, Tuchel will look to the January transfer window to find a suitable transfer replacement. Fans are just not sure as to whether Digne is the right answer.
Lucas Digne, a Premier League proven left-back. He would not need time to adapt to the unforgiving pace of the league as Saul has needed to. However, his injury record is not something to play with. Last season saw the Frenchman out of the Everton squad for a total of 46 days following an ankle injury.
Although his injuries are a worry, the left-back shares some attacking qualities that could be enhanced in a left-wing-back role. Registering 7 assists last season, we often see Digne press forward successfully and transition with ease back into defensive duties. The only piece missing from his game is actually consistency.
Could Thomas Tuchel possibly bring this consistency out of him under his wing?
As the situation with Antonio Rudiger becomes less and less likely for a positive outcome, Chelsea are in a serious pickle and will need to seek out a replacement as soon as possible. It would be best to have a feasible solution before the January transfer window closes. Maybe with a deal pre-agreed for a summer transfer.
Wesley Fofana is on Chelsea’s wish list. Whilst I believe Fofana has all the ingredients to become a world class centre back, can we trust that his current injury will not affect his form going forward?
Not everybody can be like Virgil Van Dijk and bounce back from a serious injury. Chelsea have to play the long game with the Frenchman to ensure that they get their money’s worth.
The last thing we want is to bring home a defender that we cannot get the best out of. Must I remind you of a certain Fernando Torres?
Chelsea swim through the French pool of options however, none of the options are suitable at this moment in time. They will need to look elsewhere in order to find the most suitable replacements. It’s sad to think that the loss of Chilwell this season could hamper our title hopes. It’s even worse knowing that losing Rudiger on a free next summer will cause a downturn in our defensive artistry next season. Whatever option that is chosen, they have to be solid and have a proven track record to fill the massive void that has/will be left open.
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