Chelsea had a poor season, all things considered. They were hoping to break into the top three and really contend for the coveted PL trophy this year, but pieces were missing, players were injured, and things went awry. Arsenal FC came from behind to shock the nation, Manchester City played well as always, and Liverpool FC gave both of those streams a real run for their money – and Chelsae was left behind,
To add insult to injury, they had to say goodbye to one of their long-term veteran players who has kept them in good standing for the past couple of seasons. Their stalwart center-back, captain, and rock in the back line noted that this would be his last season at Chelsea FC, so the club is now scrambling to find a replacement.
Chelsea FC Long-Time Defender Says Goodbye to Club
May 29. 🗓️🏆 pic.twitter.com/9v09RxYyN7
— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) May 29, 2024
Thiago Silva, an irreplaceable center defender at Chelsea, has said goodbye to the Blues following the end of this season. Thiago Silva has only gotten older, so it doesn’t come as a big surprise that this was his last stint with the London-based club – and possibly his last year in the Premier League altogether. At 39 years old, he is one of the oldest in the league and is still a field player.
Silva is now on the transfer market and puts Chelsea in a tough position as far as center-backs go once he has departed the club. The club has relied on Silva and his knowledge, awareness, and experience to get them out of tough situations in the past. But, now they will have to put their money into a new center back, either an up-and-coming player from another neighboring club, an academy prospect, or another veteran backline member who can control Chelsea and prevent goals.
It seems as though Chelsea is opting for a younger presence on the team, as rumors have been swirling that they are already looking at Ousmane Diomande from Sporting CP in Portugal. Silva was on the transfer market for just a couple of days before Chelsea FC moved on to younger players, scouting Diomande from the Lisbon-based club to see if he would be interested in moving to the Premier League next season.
One of the main obstacles standing in their way of signing this bright and shining young star is the price tag. Diomande has a high $70 million+ release clause attached to his contract at Sporting, which can deter big-name clubs from putting all of their coins in one basket when it comes to an unproven talent in the PL.
But, Chelsea might take the risk, as other clubs like Liverpool, Manchester United, and City are all considering the young central defender.
Chelsea FC Looking Forward
https://gty.im/2153844634
Diomande might be exactly what Chelsea needs, especially as their squad is changing considerably in the off-season. Fofana might not make a return to the Blues due to his long-term injury in the 2023-2024 campaign, which can leave a huge hole in the starting lineup for the London-based team. Plus, Chalobah has yet to gain first-team experience and refuses to go out on loan, instead opting to stay at Stamford Bridge and receive zero minutes of senior football in the Premier League.
Other players, like Guehl, are now options for Chelsea as buy-back players. Chelsea sold Guehl to Crystal Palace three years ago, but have considered purchasing him again due to his progress and development as a player getting first-team minutes at the nearby London club.
About the Author
Emma is an athlete and sports fan who currently plays professional soccer. Growing up, she reached a high level in track and field, distance running, and soccer on both club and university teams.
