Thiago Silva is set to leave Chelsea once his contract expires at the end of this season and the defender could be on his way back to Brazil.
Silva started his career at Fluminense and the club’s sporting director Fred has admitted that a return to his boyhood club is very much on the cards.
Fred told ESPN Brazi[h/t 90Min]: “Thiago has a contract in England, we’re rooting for him, I personally am a friend of his, I’m a big fan of his character, he deserves all the best. He knows here that the doors are wide open for him to return.
“We have to be careful not to put pressure on Thiago. The fans love Thiago, we love Thiago and Thiago loves Fluminense. One day it’s inevitable, it will happen, it’s the players wish, the club’s wish and we hope it happens as soon as possible.”
Thiago Silva has been with Chelsea for four years and despite signing some big-name defenders, the 39-year-old is still a regular feature in the Blues’ backline. At his age, Silva should be used sparingly but injured the former PSG man has featured in 23 Premier League games so far.
However, Chelsea know very well that this dependence on Silva will end in May which is why they are prioritising the signing of a new central defender once the transfer window opens.
Sporting Lisbon’s Ousmane Diomande who has a £69m release clause is at the top of their list with Newcastle’s Sven Botman being the second favourite. Chelsea have been keeping tabs on Diomande for more than a year and they feel the 20-year-old can be the perfect replacement for Thiago Silva.
Apart from these two defenders, Chelsea have also been linked with Marc Guehi and Benfica’s Antonio Silva, a player who is wanted by giants like Real Madrid.
Thiago Silva arrived as a free agent to Chelsea and in these four seasons, he has been the defensive backbone, playing close to 150 games. It will be impossible to replace the experience of the 39-year-old but Chelsea will have to make sure they sign someone who at least has similar abilities and attributes on the pitch.
