Chelsea: Why Thiago Silva can be a crucial addition at Stamford Bridge

Chelsea have reportedly reached an agreement for free agent and ex-Paris Saint Germain captain Thiago Silva.

After being handed a transfer ban ahead of last season’s run, Chelsea Football Club lost their prime winger Eden Hazard. However, Frank Lampard managed to end the season in a Champions League slot.

In the current transfer window, Chelsea are making up for lost time having already signed Hakim Ziyech and Timo Werner. Adding to this, they are still being linked with multiple players such as Kai Havertz and Ben Chilwell, and apparently they are not done yet.

The Blues are on the verge of completing their third signing, Thiago Silva. The PSG defender is a free agent and is expected to be announced this week, according to Fabrizio Romano.

Following the Champions League finals defeat to Bayern Munich in Lisbon, Silva stated that his agent is working on his potential transfer. The player is rumored with several clubs including the Serie A outfit, Florentia.

The veteran central defender said:

"I have not accepted any offers. The news of an agreement reached with Florentina are not true.  My agent is speaking with Florentina as well as with other clubs. I will make a decision in the coming days together with my family."

With Chelsa closing in on the 35-year-old defender, here is why Thiago Silva can be a major addition to the side;

Chelsea and their defensive problems

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Frank Lampard saw his side concede 54 goals in the 2019/20 season and had the worst defensive records in the top flight of the top-six side. The defense consisted of Antonio Rudiger, Kurt Zouma, Andreas Christensen, Marcos Alonso, Emerson Palmieri, and Cesar Azipilicueta.

The defense stood 10th in the number of goals conceded. They fell below newly-promoted Sheffield United, Crystal Palace and Burnley. The worst defensive record has mostly been blamed on Kepa Arrizabalaga but everyone in hindsight knows that it was the absence of an able leader at the back to command the side.

Signing Silva can definitely address this issue as he has marshaled the PSG troops since 2014. Moreover, Chelsea are in the Champions League owing to their fourth-place finish in the Premier League. However, their 7-1 (aggregate) thrashing by German giants raised questions regarding their defense.

With an abundance of experience to his name, Thiago can be a vocal player at the back. The Brazilian was able to keep the goal-poacher Robert Lewandowski silent in the Champions League finals. One cannot say that the Blues’ defenders and youngsters haven’t done well in the Premier League season.

In several attributes, the players have exceeded expectations but they lack quality. If Fikayo Tomori is one of the best on successful take-ons, he fails badly in aerial duels. Tomori has shown the promise to become one of the best central defenders in the league. However, it seems that the English international needs time to adapt.

Kurt Zouma has the capability to develop himself into one of the best defenders. His towering presence has helped the club fight aerially. Compared to his compatriots, the player has the best aerial duel success rate. He has an aerial duel success rate of 74% compared to his compatriots’ 60%.

With multiple shortcomings combined with the disastrous Kepa Arrizabalaga’s goalkeeping, it resulted in Chelsea leaking in loads of goals. Adding Thiago Silva to the same backline would be something that Frank Lampard is looking for. Despite playing fewer games than the highly-rated Tomori and Zouma, the PSG captain has more clean-sheets. Also, he has one of the highest ground duel success rate in Paris at 74%. The Chelsea defenders have fared close to 68% overall.

The same trend continues in the Champions League too. The PSG skipper, on his way to the final, has recorded higher aerial and ground duel success rate. These attributes can definitely help Frank Lampard sort out his defensive woes.

It might be difficult for the player to adapt to the much superior and faster Premier League compared to that of Ligue 1. He is a good reader of the game and has 1.7 interceptions per 90 in the French league, making him Mr perceptions.

Thiago Silva is one of the best defenders when he is on the ball. The Brazilian international has a pass success percentage of 95.45%, which is insane. Along with these attributes, he can mentor the youngsters as well.

The player will turn 36 in September. However, his recent performances show that he is far from done. The player wants to play the 2022 World Cup and still believes that he has three years (for the least) left in him to play at an elite level.

Frank Lampard will hope that his stop-gap arrangement to address the defensive woes doesn’t backfire on him. But the question which everyone has at the end is, can Thiago Silva adjust to the Premier League and put in strong performances week in and week out?