Chelsea are closing in on signing Benoit Badiashile from Monaco, according to Fabrizio Romano. The West London club are currently outside the Top 4 in the Premier League and are looking at bringing in defensive reinforcements as they hope to turn their season around. Badiashile would undoubtedly help in this department.
Benoit Badiashile to Chelsea Deal Progressing to the Final Stage
Chelsea’s Woes in the Defensive Department
Chelsea’s ageing central defence has left a lot to be desired this season. Veteran defender Thiago Silva is, at 38, the oldest player to have appeared in the Premier League this campaign. Despite his intelligence and awareness, he is not the same defender he was during his heyday. Meanwhile, Senegalese international Kalidou Koulibaly has not had the impact that Chelsea fans would have wanted him to have.
The Blues have also had to cope with multiple injuries in their defensive line. Summer signing Wesley Fofana has not played for the Blues in a competitive match since October and limped off in a recent friendly against Brentford. In addition, English full-backs Reece James and Ben Chilwell are both sidelined due to recurring injuries. James picked up a knock in Chelsea’s 2-0 win over Bournemouth on Tuesday.
Chelsea in Advanced Negotiations Over Badiashile
According to Romano, there is an agreement in principle on personal terms with Badiashile, with the player himself keen on a move to West London. The prospective transfer fee is thought to be in the range of £31-35 million.
Badiashile would fit perfectly into Graham Potter’s system at Chelsea, as the English boss has largely used a back-3 formation in his time as manager at Stamford Bridge. The 21-year-old is capable of playing as the left-sided centre-back in such a system.
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Chelsea have brought in a number of young players in recent transfer windows. Since Todd Boehly’s takeover, the Blues have invested heavily in youngsters, while players like Conor Gallagher, Armando Broja and Trevoh Chalobah have also found increased roles in the team. The addition of Badiashile would only strengthen the existing young core.
Badiashile’s Player Profile
Badiashile made his professional debut for Monaco aged 17 and has since made over 100 appearances for the senior team across four seasons. He is left-footed and his biggest strength is his aerial prowess, earning him regular descriptions as a “monster“. The Frenchman is also a very accurate passer and is involved in a lot of his team’s build-up play. His performances for Monaco resulted in a call-up to the French international team in September.
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Badiashile’s signing would undoubtedly make Chelsea a stronger team on the defensive side. It would also make the Blues a side to watch out for in the years to come with their young core. Chelsea fans will be hoping that their club can bring the Monegasque centre-back to Stamford Bridge in the January window.
