Chelsea transfers: Zouma rumors confirm longevity of 3-4-3

Chelsea has finally emerged as a buyer in this summer’s transfer market after standing on the sidelines for the better part of two months. All of the dealings had been outgoing with the board seemingly stuck waiting for developments about Erling Haaland. The Blues have now announced their presence on the market floor after it was revealed they were in serious talks for Sevilla centerback Jules Kounde. The move for the sought-after centerback seems to be a certainty now as Kounde wants to join the European Champions.

The reality of chasing a 22-year-old defender with Champions League experience is clubs are going to have to dish out a lot of money in order to sign him. Of course, seeing as Kounde plays in Spain, he does have a release clause. Sevilla slapped a £68 million (€80 million) price tag on his head when he signed for the club. Suffice it to say, Marina Granovskaia is going to do her best to lower that valuation and one of the ways to do this is to propose a swap deal. The Blues are reportedly offering up Kurt Zouma and some extra cash in the transfer to help lower the price and avoid paying the release clause. The inclusion of the 26-year-old in the talks not only lowers the asking price, but it also tells us a lot about Thomas Tuchel’s plan going forward.

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Kurt Zouma’s impending exit confirms the 3-4-3 is here to stay at Chelsea.

Tuchel is one of the most tactically adept managers on the planet. The German came to London with a reputation of tactical flexibility. He has been known to change his side’s formation drastically from game-to-game based on the opponent’s gameplan. Supporters saw very little tactical shift during Tuchel’s first few months in charge. He swapped a back four for a back three just 24 hours before kickoff against Wolves and never looked back. Well, except for the early afternoon kickoff against Leeds United where the Blues lined up in a half-assed 4-2-3-1. Let’s try to forget that day though.

The lack of flexibility shown by Tuchel in his first six months comes down to two things: results and pressure. Chelsea was winning football matches rather convincingly. It may not have been the prettiest attacking display, but the Blues became a brick wall at the back. Other teams could not break down Tuchel’s men and it seemed as if he’d fixed the leaky issues at the back that were present under Frank Lampard. Further, the pressure on Tuchel was too high to make any drastic changes. Fixtures were coming fast and furious against some of Europe’s biggest sides. Essentially, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

To come full circle though, these led to a lot of questions regarding Tuchel’s plans for his second season in charge. Would the Blues be open to some changes all over the pitch, including at the back? The behind closed doors friendlies showed us that the possibility existed for a formational adjustment. However, those discussions have quieted after Chelsea’s first televised preseason scrap, as well as rumors on the transfer front.

The Blues used unconventional methods to make the usual three-at-the-back work against Bournemouth, including lining up with Lewis Baker at centerback. Regardless, it’s the latest transfer developments that give away Tuchel’s hand. The German gaffer is going ahead with his plans to use a 3-4-3, as displayed by his willingness to let Zouma leave the club. Zouma seldom featured in Tuchel’s back three, proving far more comfortable in a centerback partnership under the previous regime. While the Frenchman does have the most value amongst Chelsea central defenders due to his contract situation, he also possesses a long-term solution at the back. The Blues would not let him go unless they planned on keeping him on the bench next season.

Therefore, it’s safe to say Zouma’s departure signals the death of the back four. Chelsea is finally accepting its fate as a team who uses three centerbacks, a possibility that’s existed since Antonio Conte’s stint with the club. The Blues have generally produced better results when in this formation, and managers like Lampard flirted with the switch, but ultimately returned to a more attacking set-up. The board can now finally buy the perfect players for a back three, beginning with Kounde. The 3-4-3 is here to stay, albeit at the expense of a beloved centerback.

What formation do you think best suits Chelsea? Let us know in the comments or on Twitter!