Chelsea are flying at the top of the Premier League – and the Blues fans in the Transfer Tavern are loving it…
Despite a mid-season blip, Conte has well and truly turned things around at the Bridge and there are plenty of supporters and pundits alike who are tipping them for the title come the end of the May.
And you wouldn’t blame them either – they’ve been consistent and even on their bad days, have dispatched opponents to ensure all three points remain at Stamford Bridge.
But one thing that has repeatedly cropped up has been their defending at times, which admittedly, has been a little shaky on occasions.
Our Chelsea-mad landlord hasn’t been best impressed with his side’s ability to keep clean sheets and he’s given us some names of defenders he’d like to see join in January.
So with that in mind, here’s 4 defenders Chelsea should look to sign after Christmas…
Leonardo Bonucci
He’s been long touted in the Tavern with a move to the Premier League but still Leonardo Bonucci remains one of the core three at the heart of the Juventus three-man defence.
He’s a towering presence who has proved himself to be one of the best central defenders in the game right now and surely he’d be a better shout than the likes of Cahill, Terry and Luiz.
Virgil van Dijk
Southampton’s colossal Dutch defender Virgil van Dijk is another man who has been touted with a move to a top club in the Premier League and he’s a player that would very much fit the bill at Chelsea.
Saints fans here in the Tavern are desperate for him to stay at St Mary’s but his exceptional defending ability and dominance in the air means a move to a top side can’t be that far away.
He’d suit Chelsea’s occasional three-back formation too, because of his yard of pace.
Jetro Willems
One of the brightest young full-backs around, Jetro Willems is a man that has been tipped for an extremely bright future indeed.
He’s the youngest ever player to feature at a European Championship when he appeared for Holland back in Euro 2012. He’s come on leaps and bounds since then and some in the Tavern are tipping him to be one of the best Dutch defenders of this century if his development continues.
PSV will want to keep hold of their young starlet but at the right price, Chelsea might just be able to seal a deal.
Serge Aurier
Despite his difficulties with the law in recent months, there is little doubt that PSG’s rampaging full-back Serge Aurier remains one of the most hard-working defenders in the game.
The Ivorian international is fantastic both offensively and defensively and many have touted him to join a Premier League side for a long time now.
With Branislav Ivanovic’s Chelsea career coming to an end, he’d make excellent cover and would push for a starting berth in this current XI too.
