Fabrizio Romano now rules out Chelsea move for £87m player despite scouting mission

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Chelsea are unlikely to sign Benfica defender Antonio Silva this month.

Fabrizio Romano recently stated on Substack that he has not heard anything about Antonio Silva joining Chelsea despite rumours.

“A deal that probably won’t be happening,” the Italian journalist said.

At the start of January, The Sun reported that Chelsea were keen on Silva but would have to pay the centre-back’s £87m release clause.

The same outlet also claimed that the Blues have been scouting him this season.

Antonio Silva to Chelsea not happening

Chelsea are a club who can probably afford to fork out £87m on Silva. However, is there really a need to at this point? The answer is no.

Even with Wesley Fofana and Benoit Badiashile both currently out injured, Mauricio Pochettino still has Thiago Silva, Axel Disasi and Levi Colwill at his disposal.

Colwill has, of course, been playing at left-back, but centre-half remains his natural position.

Perhaps in the summer things could change. Silva could end up leaving the club when his contract expires, and who knows how Fofana will recover from his injury. But at this moment in time, it just does not make sense for Chelsea to spend crazy money on a new central defender.

The above has obviously not stopped them from being linked with the likes of Silva and Sporting Lisbon’s Ousmane Diomande and with Chelsea, you can never rule anything out. But it would be quite surprising if they landed the former this month if he is going to cost almost £90m. As Romano said, it probably will not be happening.

Pochettino, then, will likely have to get by with the likes of Silva and Disasi, who are decent options to say the least. And in the summer, you would imagine that Chelsea will look at things again should nothing actually happen now.