Chelsea have to rival Manchester United for former player Antonio Conte tipped to become Blues captain

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Heading into the new year, there was a lot of talk about Chelsea perhaps needing to sign another centre-forward.

It is quite clear, though, that Enzo Maresca could also probably do with the arrival of a new central defender.

While he has options on paper, Wesley Fofana cannot stay fit, and a lot of the names that he has there are still quite young.

Manchester City’s Ruben Dias would be a great option for Chelsea, but if that is an unrealistic target, then they should consider one of their former players.

• READ MORE: Chelsea would love to secure ‘massive deal’ to sign £65m Manchester City man

Chelsea should challenge Manchester United for Andreas Christensen’s signature

Barcelona star and ex-Chelsea defender Andreas Christensen is thought to be attracting interest from a couple of top European clubs.

According to Mundo Deportivo, Manchester United and Juventus are both keen on signing Christensen, who left Stamford Bridge in 2022.

If he is available, Chelsea really should be throwing their hat into the ring for his signature. The 28-year-old is experienced, familiar with the Premier League and comfortable on the ball, which is what managers want from their centre-halves in this day and age.

As per WhoScored, Christensen recorded a 94.3% pass success rate in La Liga last season, which was the highest in Barcelona’s squad (five appearances minimum).

Antonio Conte tipped Andreas Christensen to become Chelsea captain

When Antonio Conte managed Christensen at Chelsea, he saw something special in the Dane, predicting that he would go on to become Chelsea captain one day.

“I trust Christensen,” Conte was quoted as saying by Sky Sports in 2018. “I think this player is the present and also for the future for Chelsea. He can also become the captain of this team.”

That prophecy was never fulfilled as Christensen went on to depart Chelsea a few years later without ever being handed the captain’s armband on a permanent basis.

Now 28 and a very experienced defender, though, if the Denmark international returns to west London, maybe he could go on to lead the Blues. Of course, at this moment in time, there are obviously a lot of ifs and buts. However, Christensen is a name worth considering if Chelsea do want to sign a new centre-back in 2025.