Why Chelsea NEED to sign Tchouameni for new-look midfield next season
Cameron Smith
- 5 Apr 2022 23:02 BST
- 6 min read
Chelsea's midfield is arguably one of the most talented in Europe, with the likes of N'Golo Kante, Jorginho and Mateo Kovacic available to Thomas Tuchel.
However, while the trio won Chelsea the Champions League title last season, there's a sense that this could be the final campaign of their time together at the club.
Kante and Jorginho are 31 and 30 respectively, and both will be out of contract next summer, leaving Chelsea will a decision to make regarding their future.
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With the current situation at the club meaning they can neither renew contracts or sell players, Kante and Jorginho are in limbo. Their future isn't sealed, but it seems as though an exit may be around the corner. Jorginho hasn't quite displayed the consistency of his 2021 calendar year, and has often been dropped in favour of a Kante-Kovacic pivot, while the Frenchman Kante has become a perennial injury porblem.
He can't be relied upon over the course of a whole season, which is a problem.
Kovacic is the exception in the midfield right now. At 27, with two years left of his deal, the Croatia international will still be a key figure under Tuchel next season, but the same can't be said for Kante and Jorginho.
Of course, Tuchel may opt to stick with what he's worked with at the club, but so far it's very much Maurizio Sarri and Frank Lampard's Chelsea - he's yet to stamp his identity of player recruitment onto the club.
This summer, presuming the sale of the club goes smoothly and Chelsea are able to sign players again, presents an opportunity for Tuchel to create the team he wants.
Cash won't be limitless, but with multiple sales expected, funds with available to spend. Wing-back depth and new talent in central defence has been touted, but the most pressing issue is clearly central midfield. With Kante and Jorginho fazing out slightly, given their age and contractual situation, it could be time for Chelsea to introduce a brand-new midfield. Kovacic may be seen as the experienced head by Tuchel, but a new-look double pivot, if he persists with the system he's used for the majority of his time at Stamford Bridge, could be on the cards.
A report from Spanish news outlet AS has revealed that Chelsea, along with PSG, are set to rival Real Madrid for the signing of Monaco midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni. Los Blancos have reportedly made him a prime transfer target, but if they focus on Kylian Mbappe first it may give Chelsea a real chance.
Why do Chelsea want Tchouameni?
The Frenchman has been a star in Ligue 1 since his breakout season for Bordeaux in the 2019/20 season, but over the past 18 months he's emerged onto the world stage as one of the very best young midfielders around.
His form in Ligue 1 has been rewarded with a senior French call-up, and he now has eight caps to his name after making his debut in September 2021. Tchouameni has been a national team regular since then and started the Nations League win over Spain in October 2021 before scoring his first international goal against Ivory Coast in March 2022.
A player capable of sitting as a long pivot just as easily as he is playing more of a box-to-box role, Tchouameni eats up ground and is a very action defender.
With over 6.0 tackles and interceptions per 90, Tchouameni trumps the entirety of the current Chelsea squad, and while his numbers may dip in the Premier League, his form for France suggests not.
With Declan Rice, another reported of Chelsea's, set to cost £150 million according to West Ham manager David Moyes, Tchouameni presents a cheaper alternative who quite frankly has arguably out-performed Rice over the past 18 months.
Standing at over 6ft, Tchouameni is a physical presence in midfield, which is something Chelsea currently lack. Manchester City have Rodri, Liverpool have Fabinho, Arsenal even have Thomas Partey, but Chelsea don't have a tall, physical midfielder in their squad. Tchouameni would solve that issue, while he also has the technical ability needed to play in a ball-dominant side.
What would Chelsea's brand-new midfield look like?
Rotation is key for big teams, so Kovacic would still get plenty of minutes, and could even trump these two in regards to time on the pitch, but Conor Gallagher deserves to be recalled to the Chelsea first-team and given a chance.
The now-England international has been on four loan spells away from Chelsea and has excelled at each one. He was impressive at Charlton and Swansea in the Championship and has made the step up to the top flight with ease at West Brom and now Crystal Palace.
Gallagher has proven he is ready for Chelsea and as a fully-capped England international with a great chance of going to the World Cup, he's shown Tuchel that he deserves to play for the Blues next season.
The only slight concern is that Gallagher may not fit in the current Chelsea set-up. He's played as a No.8 throughout his career and he's thrived there at Selhurst Park. The position gives him the freedom to attack the penalty box, and also leave position to go and press with an immense intensity.
With Chelsea playing a double pivot that may not work, and if Gallagher can't do what makes him best, that's a concern. However, Kante has been known for his pressing and somewhat ill-discipline when it comes to defensive shape, and Gallagher is the same. So, if Tuchel can coach Kante into the role, then he can easily do the same with Gallagher.
The Englishman will need someone who can mop up behind him in case his pressing is bypassed, and Jorginho and Kovacic aren't exactly that kind of player given they're more possession-orientated. One person who would be able to fulfil that role, however, is Tchouameni. Gallagher and the Frenchman, along with Mason Mount dropping deep, could dovetail nicely and provide Chelsea will some much-needed youth and physicality in the middle of the park.
Of course, it's not a revolutionary midfield and may not close the gap to Man City and Liverpool, but Chelsea need a freshening up of the squad after an average season, and adding Tchouameni and Gallagher into the midfield mix seems like a recipe for success.
