With Chelsea’s pursuit of Jules Kounde looking ever more likely it will end in failure, the Blues should turn their attention to Inter’s Milan Skriniar.
It is no secret that Thomas Tuchel is in the market for central defenders in the transfer window after losing both Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen in the summer.
While Kalidou Koulibaly arrived from Napoli for a fee of £34 million earlier in the window, Tuchel is keen to bring in at least one more defender.
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The likes of Matthijs de Ligt, Nathan Ake and Presnel Kimpembe have all been considered but ultimately, like a deal for Kounde, these have not materialised this summer.
With Kounde looking like he will be joining Barcelona, reports have linked Chelsea with moves for Skriniar and Josko Gvardiol as Tuchel hopes to add to his defence.
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While Gvardiol would make a fine addition to Chelsea's squad, the defender could be priced out of a move this summer, with a contract expiring in 2026 compared to Skriniar's deal expiring in 2023.
Furthermore, Gvardiol's preferred role would be on the left side of a back three, where Koulibaly is a natural.
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While the Senegal international possesses the qualities to play in any position across the defence, it makes the most sense to allow him to play where he has featured in the past for Napoli and to bring in a right-sided defender to compliment him.
Skriniar has appeared for Inter Milan on the right of a back three in recent years, suiting his game well and helping to utilise his underrated passing skills.
The Slovakian was given the freedom to push forward as a wider central defender and break the lines with some clever passes.
He also linked up well with Denzel Dumfires, who Chelsea have been linked with in the past, and everything points to him having a strong relationship with Reece James on the field if he was to join.
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Chelsea were in the market for a progressive ball carrier in Kounde, and while Skriniar’s numbers are not as impressive as the 23-year-old’s, he excels elsewhere where Kounde may not.
Standing at 6’1, Skriniar is notably taller than Kounde and this is something that Chelsea have lacked in recent years. His physical presence at the back is suited to Premier League football, where Tuchel had doubts regarding Kounde’s ability to adapt to the league.
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The Slovakian is known as a leader in the dressing room, something that Chelsea are lacking at the moment and with Cesar Azpilicueta’s uncertain future, something that they could need to bring in this summer.
The 27-year-old has shown shades of John Terry during his time in the Serie A, diving into challenges, backing up his teammates and fighting for his club’s badge.
This is something that Chelsea had in Rudiger, but lacked in Christensen who was a more shy presence on the field and in the changing room.
Skriniar is a natural born leader, as his former youth coach praised him, stating: “He has always been a leader on and off the pitch.”
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This is exactly what Chelsea need right now, somebody who can slot in and deal with the pressure of being a Blue.
Furthermore, Skriniar’s injury record over the last season was impressive, featuring in 35 out of Inter’s 38 matches in the Serie A as one of the most impressive players in the league.
This has led to interest from Paris Saint-Germain. However, the Ligue 1 champions are on the verge of signing Nodi Mukiele from RB Leipzig, freeing up a move for Skriniar for the Blues.
The defender has one year left on his contract in Milan and Chelsea could look to take advantage of this, much like they did with Koulibaly’s situation in Naples.
If Tuchel’s side can tie up a deal, the Blues could go into next season with two of the Serie A’s best defensive players from last season making up the backline.
The league is known for producing some of the best defenders in the world, and this is exactly what Chelsea need right now.
While Koulibaly is 31-years-old and will bring experience to match Thiago Silva’s, Skriniar is entering the prime years of his career at 27 years of age.
With Tuchel's ability to improve defenders and Skriniar already being one of the best in the world,, the deal just makes sense for Chelsea and a move could be done swiftly rather than seeing the Blues dragged into another transfer battle as the Premier League season nears.
Featured Image Credit: AlamyTopics: Chelsea, Inter Milan, Jules Kounde, Barcelona, Thomas Tuchel, Football, Transfers, Chelsea Transfer News & Rumours