Possible replacements for Andreas Christensen at Chelsea

Nikola Milenkovic

Fiorentina has produced some world class talent over the last few years. Federico Chiesa, Dusan Vlahovic and now Nikola Milenkovic. Milenkovic stands 6-foot-5 (195 cm) tall and he has the kind of strong frame that can be very intimidating in a defender. While Fiorentina does not have the best defensive record, Milenkovic has caught the eye of teams across Europe for his defensive displays. He makes 2.06 interceptions and 1.37 blocks per 90 minutes. He has also mastered the art of winning aerial duels, winning 3.44 aerials per 90 minutes.

Milenkovic has also 2.81 progressive passes and 2.65 progressive carries per 90 minutes. He has both the physical and technical tools to cope with the challenges in the Premier League. At 24 years old and enough experience in the Serie A, Milenkovic could be an automatic starter, as well as a long-term signing to anchor the Chelsea defence for years to come.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek

The reason this duo has been dubbed ‘the wildcards’ is because in this section, we can have a more creative outlook. Further, we can explore possibilities that are a little more farfetched, but not entirely impossible. It makes us look at ideas while keeping an open mind that might otherwise sound ridiculous.

Many fans were left puzzled after seeing Ruben Loftus-Cheek in the line-up in the midweek fixture against Luton Town . . . in defense. Most expected him to play in a midfield three, but the Englishman actually played centerback for a majority of the contest. Loftus-Cheek assisted a goal by putting in a beautiful ball over the Hatters’ back line to Timo Werner. Considering the circumstances, he played a good overall game. Loftus-Cheek went on to make two clearances, rack up 10 ball recoveries and he won five of six ground duels, as well as six of eight aerial duels.

Of course, this was all in an FA Cup game against a Championship side. Nevertheless, it gives rise to the idea of Loftus-Cheek actually switching positions. While Chelsea conceded two goals that game, there is not much Loftus-Cheek did to concede those goals. Just like Ampadu, Loftus-Cheek if played as a centerback, may save the Blues a lot of money in the grand scheme of things, especially since a new owner may be hesitant to spent a lot of money after acquiring the club.

Loftus-Cheek has played as a No. 6, No. 8, No. 10, left winger, striker and most recently, a centerback, and has never had a truly bad performance. This is because he is a natural footballer with a great understanding of the game, which enables him to play these positions without much trouble. Switching to centerback would be a difficult move, but who else to help him make the switch than one of the most complete defenders in world football for the past decade, Silva.

Who would you like to see replace Christensen within the Blues’ ranks? Let us know your thoughts in the comments or on Twitter!