“If I’m Chelsea” – Former pro recommends new signing to Blues owners | OneFootball

A former professional footballer turned pundit has recommended a new signing for the Chelsea owners to sign.

I also think that this is a move that pretty much every Chelsea fan is more than likely to get behind, although I cannot speak for all of them of course. I know I would certainly be behind it.

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We are of course speaking about bringing back former Chelsea defender Thiago Silva, who is now a free agent and wants to join a new club in the January transfer window next month.

Silva was world class at Chelsea and has been one of the best defenders we have ever witnessed play at Stamford Bridge. He wasn’t young when he was at our club though, and now he is 41-years-old. People will question whether he can still do it in the Premier League at that age, but this isn’t something I would worry about, and neither is Darren Bent.

The former Premier League striker says Chelsea should bring Silva back to Chelsea in a playing capacity, and I fully agree with him.

Bent on Silva

Thiago Silva in action for Fluminense. (Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images)

Asked whether Silva could still make a difference at Chelsea on talkSPORT, Bent replied: ‘Yeah, he can. If I’m Chelsea then I’m trying to bring him back in some capacity and if that’s to play, that’s to play.

‘I watched him play for Fluminense in the Club World Cup and he still looked good. Yes, of course, he’s not as quick as we know he can be because he’s obviously older in age.

‘But his brain is still quick, he was still getting his body position in the right place, he was very rarely getting caught out with the ball in behind.

‘He knows full well he’s not the quickest anymore so as they’re about to clear it or clip it over the top: “I’ll drop ten yards!”

‘I played against Thiago Silva when he was in his pomp. Oh my goodness, animal! Brazil versus England… animal. He had everything: jumps, quick, powerful.

‘But now, he just reads the game so well and if I’m Chelsea then I’m trying to bring him back.’

Into a coaching role?

‘With the experience he’s got, I would bring him back in some capacity,’ Bent added.

‘He might have more of a coaching role at Chelsea now, but when you talk about someone who has got the experience, has played at the highest level and that’s got a connection to the club as well…

‘You could go and sign a 21-year-old and they still wouldn’t be as good as him.

‘When you’ve got that much experience and you command that much respect, he’ll put his team-mates in the right positions so he doesn’t really get caught out.

‘The experience that he’s got, I think he would be a great signing for Chelsea. I’m obviously not saying long-term.

‘It’s a no-brainer to bring him back.’