Thiago Silva's replacement? Chelsea target move for €70m star
Cameron Smith
- 23 Oct 2023 14:12 BST
- 3 min read
Chelsea are interested in signing Inter Milan defender Alessandro Bastoni, according to reports, as the Blues prepare for Thiago Silva’s possible departure.
The Brazilian veteran is now 39 years old and his contract at Stamford Bridge is due to expire in 2024 after he signed a one-year extension earlier this year.
It is possible that Silva decides to prolong his stay in west London for a further 12 months, but a return to Brazil has been touted as an option and Chelsea are beginning to prepare for life after the former Milan and PSG star.
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Despite his age, Silva has played 90 minutes in every Premier League match for Chelsea this season, with Mauricio Pochettino favouring the Brazilian’s vast experience in a team that is now full of youngsters.
However, the return to full fitness of Benoit Badiashile will be interesting as the former Monaco ace was one of Chelsea’s best players last season, following his January move to Stamford Bridge, and many fans have called for him to be included in Pochettino’s preferred starting XI.
Either way, Chelsea are starting to prepare for Silva’s inevitable exit and have sounded out a possible move for Inter star Bastoni.
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Calciomercatoweb have reported that both Chelsea and Manchester City “like” the Italy international, with Inter set to demand €70 million for the 24-year-old.
Bastoni was heavily pursued by Tottenham Hotspur last summer, with Antonio Conte in charge at the time, but links with a move to north London have diminished following their recent purchase of Micky van de Ven from Wolfsburg.
Bastoni to Chelsea?
The summer arrival of Axel Disasi and Levi Colwill’s return from his loan move to Brighton & Hove Albion means Chelsea are fairly well stacked in central defence.
However, Trevoh Chalobah is expected to leave in January, as per multiple reports, while Silva could leave next summer when his current contract expires.
As a result, that would leave Disasi, Colwill, Badiashile and the injury-prone Wesley Fofana as senior centre-back options for Pochettino, although Bashir Humphreys could return from his impressive loan stint at Swansea City and play a role in 2024-25.
However, Chelsea are clearly open to signing another centre-back if Silva does leave and Bastoni is reportedly one of their favoured targets, despite the fact he is left-footed like Colwill and Badiashile.
If Inter do sell Bastoni, however, then Torino’s Perr Schuurs has been lined up as a possible replacement, according to Calciomercatoweb.
