Chelsea
are close to agreeing deals to sign Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Kai Havertz,
Leicester left-back Ben Chilwell and former Paris Saint-Germain captain
Thiago Silva.
Havertz has received interest from some of the biggest clubs in Europe but
is now set to move to Stamford Bridge, with Chelsea close to concluding a
deal with Leverkusen that could be worth up to £90m.
The Blues are also likely to add Chilwell to their ranks, with talks between
them and Leicester continuing on Monday. The England international is
understood to be keen on the move and a source has told Sky Sports News that
the deal is "almost there".
While 21-year-old Havertz and 23-year-old Chilwell would add youth to Frank
Lampard's squad, Thiago Silva would provide some much needed experience in
defence.
Chelsea conceded 54 Premier League goals last season - more than any other
side in the top half of the table - and 35-year-old Silva would be expected
to help rectify the problem.
Silva is available on a free transfer after leaving PSG. His eight-year stay
in the French capital came to an end on Sunday night with defeat to Bayern
Munich in the Champions League final.
Lampard is in the process of overhauling his Chelsea side following his
first season in charge, in which he led the club to fourth place in the
Premier League and the FA Cup final.
He has already added Hakim Ziyech from Ajax and Timo Werner from RB Leipzig
for a combined £83m and Havertz, Chilwell and Silva now look set to follow.
Havertz tipped to become Chelsea superstar
German football expert Raphael Honigstein:
"He has work to do and has things to prove because he's only just turned 21,
but he's an outstanding talent, there's absolutely no doubt about that. He's
in a position where he could dominate the German national team over the next
decade, depending on his position," he told the Transfer Talk podcast.
"Will he play in the No 10 role and become the new Mesut Ozil or will he
settle a bit deeper and become the new Toni Kroos? He's got the ability to
play almost anywhere in front of the defence.
"If you look at the unique combination he has of technical ability and eye
for a pass, but also having the ability to score and create goals himself,
and his runs to be good in the air, I think the best way to sum it up is
that he's a cross between Mesut Ozil and Michael Ballack."
Analysis: Silva deal makes sense for
Chelsea
Sky Sports' Nick Wright:
It is, in many ways, a measure of the paucity of centre-back options out
there that Chelsea are turning to a 35-year-old who turns 36 next month. But
on a free transfer having reached the end of his contract with Paris
Saint-Germain, the Brazilian could still prove an invaluable addition.
Silva showed he can still cut it at the highest level in Sunday's Champions
League final. The result was ultimately disappointing for him and for PSG,
but SIlva was instrumental in keeping Robert Lewandowski quiet for long
periods and coped well with Bayern Munich's pacey wingers too.
Those defensive qualities, coupled with his ball-playing ability, make him a
good fit for Frank Lampard's side but what should be even more useful is his
experience - especially in a Chelsea backline which lacks it.
Silva is, after all, a serial winner. He lifted the Serie A title with AC
Milan in only his second season in Europe and, since his move to PSG in
2012, he has been a part of 23 domestic trophy triumphs. Chelsea are crying
out for some leadership and knowhow at the back and Silva will also be able
to mentor the many young hopefuls aiming to break into Lampard's squad. His
age means he is not a long-term solution, but he has plenty to offer in the
short-term.
Analysis: Chelsea backing expensive
Chilwell to step up
Sky Sports' Peter Smith:
Ben Chilwell won't come cheap. Under contract until 2024 and with Leicester
under no pressure to sell, the Foxes are almost certain to hold out for a
huge fee from Chelsea, just as they did when Manchester United had to pay
them £80m for Harry Maguire last summer.
So is he worth the reported £50m required to convince Leicester to sell?
Chelsea have made left-back a priority area this summer and while Chilwell
would eclipse the quality of back-up Emerson Palmieri, who seems likely to
head back to Italy, does he offer more going forward than long-term Blue
Marcos Alonso?
Defensively Chilwell is arguably more reliable than the Spanish full-back
but with players in this position now measured as much - if not more - by
their contributions in the attacking third it is clear the Foxes' youngster
still has room to improve. He recorded six goal involvements last season
(three goals, three assists), which is the same number Alonso managed (four
goals, two assists) in nine fewer games.
Chelsea and Frank Lampard will expect a significant increase on that return
if they're going to fork out big money. But Chilwell is 23 and there is an
element of Chelsea backing England's first-choice left-back to kick on at
Stamford Bridge. It will cost Chelsea a lot of money to see if that faith
will be repaid - but Lampard has already shown he is willing to give
emerging stars the chance to shine.
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