A bit out of nowhere, Chelsea has opted to bring in Saul Niguez on loan with an option to buy. The Atletico Madrid midfielder has come off the boil the last few seasons and has been looking for a change of scenery. He joins Chelsea to fill a fourth centermid shaped hole while the club avoids having to fully commit to him before seeing him. It’s a near win-win for everyone, but who is he?
1. History
There aren’t many one club men left in the world and Saul Niguez is one of them, depending on how one counts loans into that equation. He’s played his entire career for Atletico Madrid (again, minus loans), being given his debut at 17 by Diego Simeone back in 2012. Since then, he’s been ever present for the club, amassing nearly 450 appearances. Since his breakthrough season, he’s only failed to make 30 appearances on one occasion.
Niguez is fully bathed in Simeone’s hardworking tactics in nearly every aspect. Like the team at large, he works incredibly hard on and off the ball to maximize the team. He’s also been a bit of a Swiss army knife for Simeone, playing mainly at centermid but also as a wide player and even a defender if needed.
So, why is Atletico Madrid letting him go if he’s been so vital and is so versatile? Well the main reason is that he’s fallen off at least the last two seasons performance wise. Furthermore, Atletico has already made several signings to replace him. That being said, he has been crucial for the club for nearly a decade now. The loan works for Chelsea in the sense that it offers flexibility for the future. It works for Niguez too because he can choose his fate next year. And it works for Atletico because they either get Niguez back as he was or they get a solid transfer fee with his replacements already sorted.
2. Is he any good?
Yes, with the asterisk being that he’s not as good as he once was. Not too long ago, Niguez was one of the world’s best midfielders. The last two years have taken the shine off of that but given he is entering his prime years now and there were no major injury concerns, he could easily return to his best in the right circumstances. Sometimes, a change of scenery is all that is required and Chelsea is already ticking that box.
Though being brought in for the midfield, Niguez’s versatility is a huge boost as well. Being able to play wide will give Chelsea further depth at wingback and perhaps even the wide forward spots. Sometime in defense could see Thomas Tuchel use him in a halfback role, shuffling in and out of the defense as the match requires. He’ll very much be a jack of all trades however he is fielded.
Aside from his versatility, he’s a good pressing player and likes to take shots from distance. 53 goals and 22 assists in over 400 appearances is decent enough for a midfielder who is neither seen as particularly attacking or creative. But Tuchel and Chelsea will also surely like that he has an engine to rival Mason Mount, N’Golo Kante, and Timo Werner. Niguez may not play 50+ games like some of the others have done, but he easily could based on his career thus far.
The main question will really be how he is used and when. He’s most similar to Kante so if it is an either or, Kante wins out if he’s fit. But, Kante going in and out of fitness in recent seasons is an important reason why Niguez may be needed more than expected. He’s moving from a club where he was a key figure (even out of form) to one he is fourth choice (at least for now). That only likely happens if he’s given certain guarantees and Kante being treated carefully may be Niguez’s window of opportunity. Furthermore, if Chelsea ever goes into a three man midfield, Niguez would be a good connecting player to have available.
But, more than anything else, Chelsea will hope that Niguez rediscovers his form from a few seasons ago. Back then he was easily one of the best midfielders in the world and if Chelsea can draw that back out a loan with an option to buy will be a massive coup. The loan gives Chelsea the wiggle room in case that doesn’t happen but there are really only upsides to this deal as it stands.
3. What does this mean for Billy Gilmour and Conor Gallagher next year?
Any signing has to be made with half an eye on who is already at the club. Gilmour and Gallagher are both away on loan this season and both are viewed as potential Chelsea players going forward. The club won’t want to get to place where they are losing either because of signing a player, which is a bit of a concern with bringing anyone in this season as the fourth choice.
That’s why the loan is particularly brilliant. Chelsea has no commitment to sign Niguez, merely an option. If he works out, the Blues could sign him and figure things out later. If not, the path for Gilmour and Gallagher is left open to return to the first team.
Furthermore, Kante and Jorginho aren’t getting younger. Though both could remain at a high level for some time, eventually the cliff will come. Chelsea may want to sell before that happens and Niguez offers yet another safety net for that eventuality.
Another good reason is Chelsea, with or without Tuchel, are unlikely to play just two centermids forever. When the change to a three man midfield comes, and eventually it will, the Blues will find themselves light without more signings. Niguez would help to bridge that gap and give the club more flexibility in the long run without blocking off the futures of Gilmour, Gallagher, or whoever might be coming up.
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