Every Chelsea fan undoubtedly has his or her own opinion on how to improve the current squad. The Blues are just two weeks removed from their second Champions League final victory in club history, but the best teams in world football are always looking to build on their success. The top areas that Marina Granovskaia, Petr Cech and Thomas Tuchel need to add on to were seemingly the striker and defensive midfield positions. That was until the last few weeks of the season revealed another “weakness” in the eyes of the gaffer.
Many viewed Reece James’ switch to right centerback as a tactical decision to help cope with Jamie Vardy’s pace. However, the idea has been tossed around that the positional swap was because the German manager isn’t fully satisfied with his wingback options. Enter the summer transfer window. As the Euros prepare to start, the focus in the world of football transfers has shifted to the individuals not partaking in the tournament. Paris Saint-Germain recently cemented its interest in Inter Milan’s Achraf Hakimi with a bid to the Italian title winners and it’s stolen headlines. The Parisians’ pursuit will not go uncontested though; Chelsea has reportedly matched the bid in hopes it can sign the Moroccan.
This move is sure to puzzle some, especially on the back of James and Cesar Azpilicueta having fantastic campaigns. That being said, the acquisition of Hakimi wouldn’t change much around SW6. Azpilicueta is 31, after all. The end of the road isn’t necessarily near for the Spaniard, the signs of wear were obvious throughout the last year though. Azpilicueta has lost a lot of his pace and stamina, especially toward the end of box-to-box bouts. The club captain isn’t going anywhere any time soon, which means he’ll be around to help integrate James into the RCB role if Hakimi makes the move.
Chelsea will be competing on a few different fronts next season, so depth is crucial. Tuchel’s men will be fighting for the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, Carabao Cup, Super League and Club World Cup at various points throughout the season. It goes without saying there will be ample opportunities for players to get onto the pitch. In a positional sense, Hakimi’s arrival just means that Tuchel sees James as a long-term solution at the back.
I’d be remiss if I didn’t also mention the Moroccan’s ability to play on both sides. Hakimi’s arrival will require the Blues to sell a handful of squad players—there’s no doubting that—but it opens the door for Chelsea to cash in on both Marcos Alonso and Emerson if it so chooses. Ben Chilwell is in line to be the Blues’ starter on the left, regardless of formation. Hakimi could step in as a suitable replacement when needed, if the club opts to sell the Spaniard and Italian left backs.
In a more broad sense, Hakimi’s arrival means two things for the foreseeable future.
Firstly—and perhaps most importantly—it signifies that the club is backing Tuchel’s vision. The board has failed to properly stand by prior managers. The potential Hakimi signing is comparable to if the club had delivered Antonio Conte the likes of Alex Sandro. It was a position of managerial desire, as opposed to a necessity. Regardless, financially backing a successful manager is key to any team’s longevity. Tuchel delivered Chelsea a Champions League trophy and now it’s time for the Blues’ hierarchy to live up to their end of the bargain. Then, and only then, will they become a long-term European powerhouse.
Secondly, the pursuit of the current Inter Milan man means Tuchel is planning to stick with a back three. Chelsea adopted the formation on a whim after the German had just 24 hours to prepare for the Wolves game. The Blues stuck with it as it acted as a solution to the previously leaky defense, but there was no guarantee it’d be here to stay. Chasing a traditional, young wingback indicates Tuchel’s interest to continue with the formation.
Hakimi may not be a top priority in the minds of many, but there is no doubting his ability. Still just 22, he’s got 145 appearances in some of Europe’s best leagues with Real Madrid, Dortmund and Inter. He’s widely considered to be one of the world’s best wingbacks, especially when one considers his attacking output. If the Blues are unable to bring in other attacking prospects, adding a wingback with 50 goal contributions during his time as a senior footballer is an excellent idea.
What do you think about Chelsea’s pursuit of Hakimi? Let us know in the comments or on Twitter!