Chelsea look set to miss out on one player who they have looked at ahead of this summer’s transfer window.
Chelsea appear to be in the market for a new central defender.
Thiago Silva is leaving the club at the end of the season when his contract expires, with his move to Fluminense already being confirmed.
Mauricio Pochettino will still have the likes of Axel Disasi, Levi Colwill and Benoit Badiashile, but it appears that the club are open to bringing in another centre-back.
Fulham’s Tosin Adarabioyo is one name that has been linked with a move to Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea set to lose out to Newcastle United
If Chelsea actually do want to bring Adarabioyo in, then they are going to have to get a move on.
According to HITC, Newcastle United are growing increasingly confident that they will win the race for the 26-year-old.
Adarabioyo is quite an appealing option for clubs in the Premier League looking for a centre-back.
He is obviously familiar with the division and will cost nothing with his contract about to expire.
Chelsea can afford to let Tosin Adarabioyo join Newcastle United
Again, because Chelsea are not exactly light in the centre-back positions, it would not be the end of the world if Adarabioyo joined Newcastle instead of them.
He could be a good squad player for the Blues, with his manager Marco Silva describing him as “special”.
But because of Disasi, Colwill, Badiashile, Trevoh Chalobah and Wesley Fofana all being around, they can survive without Adarabioyo.
Silva’s experience and leadership may need replacing, but Adarabioyo is probably not someone who is going to come in and do that.
The Brazilian, after all, is someone who has played for Chelsea, AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain, captaining the last of that trio. Silva has also earned over 100 caps for his country.
If Chelsea are planning on replacing him this summer, that is not going to be an easy task for the recruitment team.