{"id":560098,"date":"2020-07-29T10:49:02","date_gmt":"2020-07-29T14:49:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonfootball.com\/?p=560098"},"modified":"2020-07-29T10:55:14","modified_gmt":"2020-07-29T14:55:14","slug":"matthias-ginter-can-fix-chelseas-leaky-defence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/2020\/07\/29\/matthias-ginter-can-fix-chelseas-leaky-defence\/","title":{"rendered":"Matthias Ginter Can Fix Chelsea’s Leaky Defence"},"content":{"rendered":"

Chelsea<\/a> are interested in signing Matthias Ginter<\/a> from Borussia M\u00f6nchengladbach<\/a>\u00a0on a free transfer next summer, according to reports from the Metro<\/a> and The Express<\/a>.<\/p>\n

After four seasons with the German side, Ginter’s contract is set to expire in 2021, with the Blues looking to recruit the central defender to bolster their backline.<\/p>\n

Considering the West London side conceded an astonishing 54 goals in the Premier League<\/a> this season – four more than 14th-placed Crystal Palace<\/a> – the move makes sense, but it is surprising that they are willing to wait so long for their man.<\/p>\n

Chelsea need Ginter, and they need him now.<\/p>\n

Signing Matthias Ginter Will Help to Fix Chelsea’s Leaky Defence<\/h2>\n

A Rock at the Back<\/h3>\n

While the Blues have a number of talented defenders in their squad, they are frustratingly inconsistent, managing only nine clean sheets in the league<\/a> this season.<\/p>\n

Much like the signing of Virgil van Dijk<\/a> for Liverpool<\/a>, the recruitment of a defender capable of producing consistent, solid performances at the back could help Chelsea to become title challengers once more.<\/p>\n

Ginter is one of the most reliable centre backs in the Bundesliga<\/a>, averaging four clearances and 1.1 interceptions<\/a> a game – 1.2 and 0.3 more than Antonio R\u00fcdiger<\/a> respectively.<\/p>\n

Where Chelsea’s error-prone backline has caused issues for Frank Lampard<\/a>‘s side all season, Ginter has helped his team to win the fourth-most duels<\/a> in the German league, injecting a much-needed stubbornness into the M\u00f6nchengladbach defence.<\/p>\n

A Leader<\/h3>\n

The centre back would also give Chelsea the calm, vocal presence they desperately need.<\/p>\n

As Germany manager Joachim L\u00f6w recently said<\/a>: “He has a certain calmness about him, which is what makes him so solid, reliable and dependable.”<\/p>\n

Ginter’s extensive experience and unbreakable cool would help to instil a sense of composure to the Blues’ often hapless backline, whose lack of organisation has led to 10 goals conceded from corners<\/a> in the Premier League.<\/p>\n

Ex-Chelsea player Glenn Hoddle<\/a> recently identified the need for a defensive leader at Chelsea, arguing<\/a>: “Someone needs to be pulling people around and they’ll cut half the goals their conceding with a player like that.”<\/p>\n

Ginter could be that player.<\/p>\n

Calm on the Ball<\/h3>\n

The M\u00f6nchengladbach defender’s calmness has helped him to become an effective ball-playing defender, too, proving key for his team’s commitment to building from the back.<\/p>\n

This is another reason why L\u00f6w has given Ginter 29 caps for his country, with the World Cup-winning coach saying<\/a>: “He\u2019s dependable and he\u2019s able to do what we want him to do, which is to help build the play up from the back.”<\/p>\n

Lampard has committed to a philosophy of starting attacks from deep, and Ginter would slot perfectly into the system the Englishman is trying to build at Stamford Bridge.<\/p>\n

The Importance of Buying Matthias Ginter Now<\/h3>\n

Chelsea’s decision to try and sign Ginter for free is certainly understandable, but it comes as something as a risk.<\/p>\n

There are already rumours that top clubs including Inter Milan and Atletico Madrid<\/a> are chasing his signature this summer, and the Metro<\/a> believes that the German’s contract could automatically renew if he plays more than 25 times over the coming campaign.<\/p>\n

Having been linked with big-money bids for Kalidou Koulibaly<\/a> and Declan Rice<\/a>, Matthias Ginter could prove to be a cheaper, yet equally effective, option for Chelsea this transfer window.<\/p>\n

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Main Photo<\/p>\n

Embed from Getty Images<\/a>