Former Chelsea player William Gallas believes the Blues should sign Bayern Munich’s Dayot Upamecano as a replacement for Thiago Silva.
Chelsea have already signed Tosin Adarabioyo from Fulham on a free transfer, and it had been reported the Blues could be in the market for another centre back, but that will likely be dependent on if Trevoh Chalobah leaves.
Silva’s four year spell came to an emotional end last season, and Chelsea could desperately do with replacing his experience in the backline.
Gallas thinks Chelsea should sign Upamecano
Chelsea have got a pool of talented defenders, and boast the likes of Levi Colwill, Benoit Badiashile, and Wesley Fofana in their ranks but they are all very young.
However, Silva’s departure has left Chelsea lacking a leader at the back and Gallas believes Upamecano could fill that void.
“Chelsea need a center-back to replace Thiago Silva, Wesley Fofana is quality but he’s so injury prone and his big knee injury hampered his progress completely,” he told Gambling Zone.
“Right now, Chelsea’s defenders are all young and they lack a world class defender, so that would be my priority in the summer.
“I haven’t really thought about it, Dayot Upamecano is good and has been very solid for France at the Euros so maybe he could be a good option.
“They need a defender who can read the game and can be a leader, because when you have experience you’ve played so many games and know how to control a match and different situations.
“If they are young, they have a different profile and with the players they have, they need a leader who can drive them and who can teach them.”
Chelsea have actually been linked with Upamecano in recent weeks, and Bayern Munich are believed to be open to moving the France international on this summer.
The Frenchman has made 114 appearances for the German giants and is out of contract in 2026, but a decision on his future is unlikely to be taken until after the Euros.
In all honesty it would just make more sense to keep Chalobah, who has proven he can perform for Chelsea, rather than selling him and looking to go back into the market for another defender.
