Transfer watch: Is Thiago Silva preparing for a move to Chelsea?
Chelsea may have another stop-gap option at centre-back available in the transfer market. Thiago Silva is increasingly unlikely to continue on at Paris Saint-Germain, and his agent is lining up the offers.
Chelsea’s pursuit of Thiago Silva intensified earlier this month amid reports of Real Madrid’s interest in the defender. Along with Silva’s former club AC Milan, this trio of giants is likely what his agent meant when he said “We already have offers from three or four big teams.”
The Brazilian centre-back may be out of contract as early as next summer. His contract runs until the end of the 2017/18 season. In the unlikely event that Paris Saint-Germain fails to qualify for next season’s Champions League, Silva’s contract expires in June 2017.
Despite the possibility of being locked in to another year at PSG, Silva and his agent are pushing to conclude a deal this December.
"It is very important for everyone – both for us and for PSG – that everything is clear by December. We can imagine leaving PSG if the club have not made us an offer by then… Thiago’s desire is to stay at PSG. He is feeling very well in Paris, as is his family. But it all depends on what the club want. – Metro"
Despite the public statements from his agent, Silva does not appear to be keen on renewing his current deal with the Parisians. His unwillingness to put pen-to-paper on a new deal has bolstered Chelsea’s chances of signing him.
Antonio Conte confirmed his side’s interest in acquiring Silva’s services as he made contact with his representatives over a proposed move. The former AC Milan man is likely to play the part of John Terry’s short term replacement at Stamford Bridge.
Silva, 32, is widely regarded as one of best centre-backs in world football. PSG signed him in the summer of2012 from AC Milan. Since then he has been a large part of PSG’s dominance over Ligue 1.
He averaged 3.1 tackles and 4.8 clearances per game last season, and 6.6 clearances per game the previous campaign. He was also PSG’s most effective passer last season, with a nearly 95% pass completion rate at 3.7 long balls per game.
Thiago Silva is only three years younger than John Terry. Silva will be 33 by the time he would arrive at Chelsea. He accumulated his impressive statistics in a much less competitive and physical league than the Premier League. He would offer Antonio Conte another option for an experienced, aerially strong and positionally astute centre-back. But he would not solve Chelsea’s issues with pace and mobility on the back-line.
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The timing of Silva’s supposed arrival is troubling at the other end of the development scale, as well. Chelsea could use someone like Thiago Silva this season. Next year – and definitely in two years – the Blues should have Kurt Zouma and Andreas Christensen in the lineup. It would be classic Chelsea short-term thinking to derail Zouma’s or Christensen’s career to squeeze 1-2 more years out of an expensive transfer in his mid-30s.
The Silva rumour is an interesting proposition because of the time frames involved. Looking that far down the road usually only makes sense in the context of a youth prospect. It makes little sense for an international veteran at a late stage of his career.
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If the club could have somehow secured Silva this season, the transfer would be much more positive. Chelsea have better short-term and long-term options open to them.