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With Chelsea FC signing Papy Djilobodji, there is a debate as to what his role will be in the squad
After Chelsea completed the signing of centre-back Papy Djilobodji from FC Nantes on deadline day, fans have been left wondering exactly how he will impact the team, and if he can break into the starting lineup this season.
The 26-year-old Senegalese international has already had a rough ride to the top. As a youngster, he had failed trials with a few of Europe’s elite clubs and was turned down by the likes of Lazio and Lille, before joining a fourth division French side. However, since breaking into Ligue 1 after helping his former team FC Nantes to promotion, Djilobodji has established himself as one of Europe’s most promising defenders.
With Chelsea’s two first choice centre-backs (Gary Cahill and John Terry) starting the season poorly, there is certainly a chance for someone to come in and shake things up at the back. Kurt Zouma is also beginning to make his mark on the team, starting Chelsea’s last two games at the expense of either of the two.
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There have also been whispers that John Terry could be playing his last season for the club before retiring, and if that’s true, there would be at least one spot up for grabs come next August. With the Blues missing out on John Stones this summer, Djilobodji has at least four months to make an impression on Jose Mourinho before it’s possible for the club to go back for the Everton defender in the winter transfer window.
However, even without Stones in the picture, Djilobodji will still have to fight Zouma and Cahill for his place. Cahill was one of the best defenders in the Premier League last season. Consistently reliable and calm under pressure, the Englishman has qualities that in the past, Djilobodji has lacked.
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In France, he had a reputation of being reckless and was frequently seen making late, rash challenges earlier on in his career. Although he’s technically matured as a player, this reputation will be a concern for Mourinho who has seen his club pick up two red cards already this season.
Therefore it would seem that for now, Djilobodji may be more of a squad rotation player. His lack of composure may see him left out of big games, where Gary Cahill will be preferred alongside either Terry or Zouma. But he will likely get a chance this season to impress during cup games or against smaller league teams. Mourinho may wish to partner his two youngsters together, and Zouma and Djilobodji share similar strengths.
Both players are physically imposing. With Djilobodji standing at 6ft 4in, and Zouma at 6ft 3in, neither are likely to be bullied off the ball. Both are also fairly young compared to Chelsea’s other options at the back, Zouma (20) especially. This means that unlike Terry and Cahill, they are not likely to be left in trail by a speedy Premier League striker.
The question would be whether these two have enough experience between them to keep their goal protected for a full 90 minutes. Furthermore, it will be intriguing to see whether they will be able to form a strong partnership together as well.
With Mourinho reportedly building for the future, the acquisition of Djilobodji is useful, especially for his price. Although we are unlikely to see too much of the Senegalese centre-back this season, he will provide a strong back-up to the current pair while developing into a first-choice defender within a few years.
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