The Chelsea fans in Transfer Tavern think that the loss of John Terry last summer was one of the main factors leading to their side’s poor form last season. In Terry, they didn’t just lose a fantastic player, but they also lost a brilliant leader – and that’s not something that is easy to replace.
Fortunately, the Blues appear to be on to something in their apparent transfer business. According to the Evening Standard, the Blues are keen on Newcastle man Jamaal Lascelles – and our landlord thinks that he would be the perfect replacement for Terry.
Though perhaps not a significant name like you would expect, Lascelles – who is rated at £13.5 million by Transfer Markt – has all the attributes needed to be the heir to Terry. Let’s not forget, Terry wasn’t a big name when he made it at Stamford Bridge. He came of age in SW6, and Lascelles is already a few levels above where Terry was when he made it at Chelsea.
You can’t talk Terry without discussing leadership, and that’s where Lascelles excels. The Englishman is the captain of Newcastle, and the defensive organisation that has made Rafael Benitez’s team so strong this season has been due, in large part, to his work at the back. He commands the team, and that is just what Chelsea have lacked. They don’t have many leaders without Terry – and so Lascelles would be a welcomed addition in that sense.
Furthermore, you can’t discount his quality on the field either. Consistently solid, you won’t get many frills in the 24-year-old, but he rarely makes a mistake, and in a team that has the likes of Andreas Christensen, Gary Cahill and David Luiz – a player like that is rare in the Chelsea dressing room.
Is he going to win Premier League trophy after Premier League trophy like the Chelsea icon? Probably not, and Terry is an impossible man to truly replace. However, Lascelles is the best option that is currently available to the Blues.
Chelsea fans – thoughts?
Let us know below!
