Exclusive: Chelsea looking at new centre-backs as Thiago Silva heads home

News that Thiago Silva will leave Chelsea this summer has left a gaping hole in the centre of the Blues defence.

The Brazilian has finally called time on his sojourn at Stamford Bridge and heads back to the club where it all started for him, Fluminense.

With a two-year deal in the offing for the 39-year-old, he’ll likely finish his professional career at the club, providing the perfect bookend to a brilliant career.

Thiago Silva’s romantic return

“Thiago Silva has made a decision on his future and has decided to return to Fluminense. It’s big news guys,” Fabrizio Romano said to CaughtOffside for his exclusive Daily Briefing.

“Everything started fantastically for Thiago Silva in 1998 at Fluminense, then he left the club in 2009 to join AC Milan then Paris Saint-Germain…

“A fantastic story with Chelsea has shown him to be one of the best defenders in the world in recent years, but it’s important to say that now Thiago is prepared to return home.

“There is a verbal agreement on a two-year contract till 2026, and contracts are being prepared, documents are being prepared but they are not signed yet. According to my information this will probably be in the third week of May.

“So, let’s be patient and wait for Thiago Silva to sign in as a new Fluminense player, which will be brilliant for the Brazilian club.”

As one of the most experienced players at Chelsea, it’s clear that his replacement needs to be of equal standing.

Todd Boehly can’t afford to get that decision wrong because it’s defensively where Chelsea need to build a solid foundation.

If the Blues don’t have that from the start of the 2024/25 campaign, they’ll struggle to recapture the glory days in West London.

“As a result, Chelsea are looking for a new centre-back and will bring in one for sure. I don’t like to put random names, so as soon as I’ll be aware of the player they want to sign, I’ll share the name,” Romano continued.

“At the moment it’s still too early to mention that as Chelsea have not decided anything.”

It’s one of the biggest decisions that the club will have to make during the transfer window, but the biggest of all will surely surround whether Mauricio Pochettino is kept on as manager.

Were Boehly to fire him, it sets another precedent for the American. Players that are of interest to the club in all positions may think twice about joining.

Thomas Tuchel and Graham Potter were both dismissed without a second thought, and if Poch is to be given the same treatment, players and their agents will understand that the Chelsea project isn’t necessarily one that they wish to be involved with.

By sticking with the Argentinian and giving him the correct tools to do the job, it could give the club the stability that they crave.

It stands to reason that silverware would then follow at some point, but only if Boehly holds his nerve.