Ola Aina, Cesar Azpilicueta are Chelsea’s best options for depth at wing-back

Chelsea’s pioneering use of the 3-4-3 has created a new demand for wing-backs, with the Blues in particular needing reinforcement. However the transfer market has none on offer. Chelsea will need to adapt current players to the new role.

Nine months ago, the only thing more far-fetched than saying “Chelsea need to buy a wing-back this summer” would be adding the words “to support starter Victor Moses.” But Moses became an indispensable part of Chelsea’s 3-4-3 formation. He attracted Barcelona’s attention in January, testifying not only to his performance but the dearth of wing-backs on the market.

Chelsea have sufficient depth across the pitch, except at wing-back. Behind Victor Moses and Marcos Alonso, the Blues do not have anyone ready to step in and own the role as completely as the season’s surprise stars.

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Antonio Conte prefers like-for-like back-ups for every role. He does not want to rely on a player stepping into a position that is their “secondary” – he always wants a squad of 11 “primary” players. Few players are trained as wing-backs, so most tilt towards either an offensive or defensive emphasis. When a player steps in as a secondary wing-back – such as Pedro or even Cesar Azpilicueta – that asymmetry is even more telling.

However, Cesar Azpilicueta could be Antonio Conte’s best of few options. Over the course of the season Azpilicueta started moving forward more on the attack. Particularly when Chelsea were on the front foot against a weaker opponent, Azpilicueta looked more like a central-midfielder or wing-back than a centre-back or full-back. This is a combination of his high football IQ and Antonio Conte training him for what is to come.

"Many of the skills that are useful for right-back are useful for right wing-back. He already is demonstrating ability as a right wing-back when he substitutes up there… Cesar Azpilicueta is the new Javier Zanetti. It’s not in any way asking too much of Azpilicueta. He has the ability to be that level. – Barrett Rouen, The Blue Lions"

As Chelsea augment their centre-backs with Andreas Christensen returning from loan and the potential purchase of Virgil van Dijk, Conte will have the flexibility to transition some of his younger defenders into wing-backs.

Ola Aina would be the best candidate. He has the necessary speed to play up the pitch but still cover back on defence. Aina, like Azpilicueta, has played right, left and centre on defence, albeit at the academy levels. This means he could support both Moses and Alonso. If both starters are unavailable, then Cesar Azpilicueta and Ola Aina could start on opposite flanks.

Ola Aina is also well down on Chelsea’s depth chart among defenders. Becoming a wing-back may be his best opportunity to increase his playing time. The back-up wing-back can expect to play 15-16 games per season, – more in the case of injuries – mainly in domestic cup tournaments.

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He could also be another revelatory star at the position, making him a valuable transfer target. As more clubs adopt wing-back formations, the market demand will only increase. Given the amount of defensive prospects Chelsea have, combined with the ability to produce wing-backs, Chelsea can make significant profit from the academy by becoming England’s wing-back factory.