Paul Merson raves about ‘proper’ £35m Chelsea player that has really impressed him

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Paul Merson has raved about the quality of Benoit Badiashile after a positive start to his Chelsea career.

Badiashile, who’s just 21, is one of numerous new signings to arrive at Stamford Bridge during the January transfer window.

He’s a talented young defender that joined the Blues for £35million from Monaco, signing on a seven-and-a-half-year contract in west London.

The left-footed centre-back made his club debut last weekend and helped keep a clean sheet in the 1-0 Premier League win over Crystal Palace. It left his new manager, Graham Potter, praising his performance after the game, too.

Benoit Badiashile first impression

Pundit Paul Merson has said he was really impressed by Badiashile’s introduction to the Premier League and English football last week.

“I was so impressed with new centre-back signing Benoit Badiashile against Palace. I think Chelsea have signed a proper defender there,” Merson told the Daily Star.

It was quite a commanding performance from a towering centre-half with so many great physical attributes.

The big decision will be whether he’s given the nod to start again when Chelsea travel to Anfield to face Liverpool in the league.

In our view, Badiashile showed more than enough on debut to get another opportunity in the starting line-up.

Kalidou Koulibaly, 31, hasn’t hit anywhere near his heights during his opening few months as a Chelsea player, so he can’t be in the Blues XI on reputation and name alone.

Hopefully, the extra competition of Badiashile can bring Koulibaly back to his back.

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