Rudiger, Silva and Christensen all going? Chelsea must tackle looming defensive crisis

James Shearman

• 27 Oct 2021 13:29 BST
• 4 min read

Chelsea could be without three members of their current Premier League-best defence next season as Antonio Rudiger, Andreas Christensen and Thiago Silva are all set to leave the club.

The trio, alongside captain Cesar Azpilicueta who is expected to stay, are only under contract until the end of the 2021/22 season.

Therefore, as soon as the coming January, they will be free to discuss terms with other clubs ahead of a move in July of 2022.

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But, manager Thomas Tuchel will be desperate to keep hold of at least two of the three defenders who helped lift the club's second Champions League trophy back in May.

Silva, at 37, would appear the least damaging to let leave, with former club Fluminense said to be interested in the Brazil international, according to TuttoMercato.

However, Rudiger and Christensen are entering the prime years of their careers and could prove to be excellent long-term assets for whoever they were to join.

The Blues board know this and, as such, have offered the pair lengthy contract extensions. Yet, talks have stalled, with high wage demands seemingly an issue.

Chelsea's looming defensive crisis

According to The Athletic, the Chelsea hierarchy ‘feel they have made Rudiger a very good offer’ with regards to a wage hike, and have no plans to increase it beyond the reported £140,000-a-week figure.

The German is looking for £200,000 a week as a reward for his fine form since Tuchel replaced Frank Lampard at the club.

And while caving in to a player's demands could set a poor precedent, Rudiger does have a fair point.

He has arguably been one of the best centre-backs in the league over the calendar year, and is thoroughly deserving of a pay rise up to the level of the Blues' other top earners.

There can be no doubts that one of Europe's elite clubs will match his demands if Chelsea decide not to do so.

As for Christensen, he too is worthy of an increase in salary after an incredible run of 42 clean sheets in the last 52 games for club and country.

Yet, according to Goal, there has been a two-month standoff between the club and the player's representatives, as the contract the Blues offered the 25-year-old in August would see him remain among the lowest earners within the first-team squad.

Christensen is a perfect fit for the most central defender in Tuchel's back three system and, as a former youth player, is someone the Blues should especially want to keep hold of.

Should the pair leave the club, Chelsea's hand could be forced into matching the

€80m (£68m) release clause of Sevilla's Jules Kounde, an excellent talent but an incredibly expensive risk when compared to two settled players.

Alternatively, Tuchel could put faith in youngsters Trevoh Chalobah and Malang Sarr with a possible switch to a back four, but that could feel like a downgrade for Chelsea fans given their current crop of excellent defenders.