New Thiago Silva deal is Chelsea's MOST important business of 2022
Cameron Smith
- Updated: 3 Jan 2022 13:54 CST
- 5 min read
Chelsea have renewed Thiago Silva's contract, and in a week surrounded in controversy thanks to Romelu Lukaku's infamous comments, it's the kind of positive news the club desperately needed.
Cool, composed, and classy - aged 37, Thiago Silva is still at the very top of his game, and it's no surprise the Blues, and Thomas Tuchel, were pushing so hard to agree a deal.
The Brazilian will stay with the West London club until the end of the 2022/23 season, and it's news Tuchel needed at this stage of the season.
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The uncertainty surrounding the future of his central defenders is unwanted noise, and the deal for Silva will have quietened any doubts just a little.
The former Paris Saint-Germain captain was always expected to renew his deal at Stamford Bridge, but now it's been confirmed it will ease any lingering concerns.
While transfer incomings are expected to be fruitful once again at Chelsea, the news of Silva's contract extension could arguably prove to be the most important business the Blues conduct this year, for several reasons.
He's one of the best centre-backs in the world
First and foremost, Silva is still one of the very best defenders in the world. He'll be 38 before 2022 comes to an end, but age doesn't seem to be affecting him one bit.
He may not possess blistering pace, but that slight deficiency is covered for in a back-three, and his other qualities are displayed so evidently in the middle of two other centre-backs.
With Antonio Rudiger and one other next to him, Silva is able to use all of his experience to aid his positioning, and he is still rarely, if ever, caught out of position.
His 91.6% pass accuracy is the fifth best in the entire Premier League, and he remains incredibly cool under pressure, helping Chelsea to build out from the back with ease.
He never seems to break a sweat, yet he never makes a mistake, and Chelsea's recent defensive collapse, that has seen them keep just one league clean sheet in their past nine games, is in no part down to him.
The Brazilian also ranks in the top 2% of centre-backs in Europe's top five leagues for progressive carries P90 (7.35) over the past 365 days.
He's still an immense player, and Chelsea would've sorely missed him had a contract arrangement not been agreed.
Allows Chelsea to focus their attentions on other contractual issues
With Silva's contract now confirmed, it gives Chelsea the chance to switch their focus to Rudiger, Andreas Christensen, and Cesar Azpilicueta's contract situations.
All three see their current deals expire in June 2022, so they'll all be leaving for free before the end of the year.
Rudiger seems destined to leave, and that is increasingly becoming the case with Azpilicueta as well. In Christensen's case, however, there's still work to be done.
The Danish international's head has been turned by interest from Barcelona, and his demands aren't currently being met. In fact, the club and player are in a stalemate right now, which is a worrying state of affairs.
However, with Silva's deal agreed, Chelsea can focus all their efforts on renegotiating with Christensen, who had a truly excellent 2021.
Ready-made captain
With Azpilicueta set to leave, Chelsea will lose their club captain in a few months time. So, not only will the Spaniard need to be replacing as a player, but his captaincy and leadership will also require a replacement.
Silva fits the bill perfectly having performed the role admirably in Azpilicueta's absence at Chelsea, and on a permanent basis at PSG.
Tuchel clearly trusts Silva, and there's arguably nobody more suited to take role of Chelsea captain from Azpi than the Brazilian in world football.
Exceptional mentor
With change likely to occur in defence at Stamford Bridge over the course of the summer, some sense of consistency is needed.
A multitude of new signings never ends well, and certainly not in one position group. So, if Chelsea were required to buy an all-new back three, then it would spell trouble.
By keeping hold of Silva, Chelsea have protected their backline by maintaining some sense of consistency between this season and next.
Not only that, but Silva will be able to coach the inevitable new signings how to play in a Tuchel defence.
Replacing Rudiger will be tricky task for Chelsea, but whoever they sign for that role will need guidance, and Silva is perfect for that role.
Without his leadership and mentoring qualities for another year, chaos could've ensued at The Bridge; Tuchel won't need to worry about that happening anymore.
Sure, signing a new central midfielder, whether that be Declan Rice or Aurelien Tchouamenin, replacing Rudiger correctly, arguably with Jules Kounde, and potentially adding a more potent attacker, if Lukaku does level, are all important tasks for Chelsea to tick off in 2022, but this deal for Silva shouldn't slip under the radar - it's that important for the Blues.
