Chelsea’s transfer plans will not be impacted by the future of one of their players.
Right now, there are quite a few members of Mauricio Pochettino‘s squad being linked with exits.
Reece James, for example, is surprisingly one name that Chelsea may be prepared to sell in the summer.
Journalist Simon Phillips recently claimed that the club would listen to a big offer for the right-back.
Thiago Silva‘s contract expires at the end of the season, so that is another player who could also be departing Stamford Bridge. The Brazilian has been dropped from Chelsea’s first XI but will be hoping to make a start when the Blues take on Manchester United this Thursday.
Chelsea’s transfer plans
Chelsea look set to strengthen their defence when the transfer window opens in the summer.
According to journalist Ben Jacobs, the club plan to sign a new centre-back.
Pochettino already has the likes of Silva, Axel Disasi and Levi Colwill for that position, though the first of that trio could leave at the end of the season when his £110,000-a-week contract (Spotrac) expires.
Whatever happens, Chelsea seem intent on adding a new centre-half to their squad, with Sporting Lisbon’s Ousmane Diomande being a potential option for them.
On their plans, Jacobs told GiveMeSport: “Regardless of Thiago Silva, although he does contribute, Chelsea have always planned to bring in a centre-back this summer. Ousmane Diomande is undoubtedly one name quite high on the list of possibilities.
“The challenge is the fee. It’s not going to be an easy negotiation. Sporting are clear with several players, including Viktor Gyokeres, that you pay the release clause or their number if there isn’t one. Otherwise, you walk away. So, that will be Chelsea’s only concern.
“It’s not that they don’t rate the player. They would move if it becomes financially viable, but it’s just whether they get value because it won’t be an easy negotiation with Sporting.”
Mauricio Pochettino happy to let Thiago Silva go
It does not look like Pochettino is going to fight for Silva to be kept at the club.
He has dropped the 39-year-old since the controversy surrounding a social media post from his wife which seemed to call for him to be sacked.
Pochettino has Disasi, Colwill, Benoit Badiashile, Trevoh Chalobah and Wesley Fofana as alternatives to Silva, while Chelsea seem likely to bring in a new centre-back in the summer.
Considering all the above, then, the Argentine is likely to allow Silva to walk when the season finishes.
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