Chelsea Are Set To Rival Arsenal For This Serie A Defender: What Will He Bring To Stamford Bridge? | OneFootball

In a recent report, Milan Live mentioned that Chelsea are set to rival Arsenal for AC Milan defender Strahinja Pavlović next year. It is believed that the Blues would have to compete with the Gunners and Barcelona in the race to sign the Serbian centre-back.

Pavlovic’s Impressive Form In Italian Football

The 24-year-old has made an impressive start to this campaign as he has already put in a few solid performances at the heart of AC Milan’s backline. Pavlovic has participated in eight matches for the Italian outfit this season, scoring one goal across all competitions.

The Serbian defensive ace has been a dominant presence on the defensive end of the field and deserves credit for making four tackles, five blocks, four interceptions and 19 clearances in Serie A. He has also been tidy when distributing possession from the back after completing 88.4% of his attempted passes in the Italian top tier (stats via fbref.com).

His current contract at the Milan club will run out in the summer of 2028. Hence, it won’t be easy for Chelsea to secure the services of the Serbian centre-back on the cheap next year.

MILAN, ITALY – MAY 24: Strahinja Pavlovic of AC Milan in action during the Serie A match between AC Milan and AC Monza at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on May 24, 2025 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

What Will Pavlovic Bring To Chelsea?

Pavlovic is a good tackler of the ball and can time his challenges well to secure the ball back for his team inside his half. He usually puts his foot through the ball when the opposition are on the front foot and can even play his way out from the back.

Standing at 1.94m, the Serbian sensation can even use his strong frame to win a few 50-50 aerial duels for his team. However, there are some concerns over whether he would be able to make a smooth transition to life in the Premier League if the Blues manage to get him on board.

We can expect Pavlovic to bring more bite and steel to Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca’s defence. He is good enough to compete for a regular starting spot at the West London club.

At 24, Pavlovic has his best years ahead of him, which makes him a good choice for the Blues to pursue this January or at the end of this campaign. All in all, Maresca should focus on going all out to land him next year.