Can Chelsea get it right and right back? Jose Bosingwa, with not too much disappointment, leaves the club and Chelsea will need some coverage in that position. However, they do have some natural cover in the squad to compensate for the right back position. But if Chelsea really are driving forward in the direction of style and flair, there are a couple of market options which could suit them better. Here we take a look at the Chelsea right back situation and ask whether that right back spot could be a key missing link.
In House Solutions
Branislav Ivanovic
The Serbian has pretty much covered
there, and has been a stalwart. With supposed interest coming from
Real Madrid and a summer move for Ivanovic, Chelsea would be wrong to
pass up the chance to move him on. I like Ivanovic, hard working,
consistent and have never seen him give less than 100%, but he is not
Ashley Cole quality and that is what the Blues need on the right side
of defence. Tough defender, but a head-down charging bull when going
forward without much vision. At a cost of over £20 because of his
contract at Stamford bridge until 2016, it is unlikely that the La
Liga champions will fork that kind of money out for him. So Ivanovic
will remain the top option at right back.
David Luiz
The Sideshow Bob of
football is no stranger to the right back spot. His galloping forward
runs would suit the role to some degree as well. However, he has
matured quite well in the centre half role and the Blues really need
him there, as it is unlikely that John Terry will get a full season
in. Out of Luiz and Ivanovic, would put the burly Serbian in a right
back ahead of the Brazilian, because Luiz is far more mobile in the
centre and better on the ball.
Michael Essien
It is such a shame that he has been
bothered so much through injury, because it has slowed him down and
taken some edge away from his game. He could work on his fitness and
get back to his natural beast-best next season, and he has worked the
right back position before with Chelsea, with some success. I am a
huge Essien fan, and wish he was still in his prime to occupy the
defensive midfield role over Mikel. That is where he excels, but
unless he steps his game back up, could be nothing more than a squad
rotation player. At his best, he would replace Mikel, not cover right
back again because of pace issues.
Ramires
A very interesting option
Chelsea have in Ramires. What are his strengths? His unrelenting work
rate and his pace. The guy is a horse who will just keep running and
running and he has the pace to really help out in overlapping from
the right back spot. With the arrival of new players in the summer in
the midfield and up top, it sounds strange to say, but the Braizlian
may be working hard to nail down a regular starting spot in the side.
If you are thinking somewhere along the lines of Hazard, Torres, Hulk
up front, Mata, Lampard, Mikel in the middle, where else does Ramires
fit in other than swapping for Lampard when he needs a rest?
Tremendous work rate and could be a real diamond back there. He is
better running into space though than moving forward with the ball.
Transfer Options
Gregory van der Wiel – Age 24 –
Market Value £8.8 million
The young Dutchman should be top of
Chelsea's transfer list for a right back, without question. If you
rolled up the power of Ramires, the defensive qualities of Michael
Essien and the creativity of Juan Mata all into one, you'll get the
young Ajax player. Never stops running and brilliant with the ball at
his feet. Will track up and down the pitch all afternoon long, and is
the closet match to a right-sided enterprising Ashley Cole that
Chelsea could get their hands on. Should be a major transfer target
for the Blues.
Danilo Luiz da Silva – Age 20 –
Market Value £8.8 million
The Blues could well go for more of a
Brazilian flair if they raided FC Porto again to get Danilo. Would be
a second choice to GVDW without a doubt, but there is a lot of
promise in the youngster too. Versatile and quick, you'll see him in
the Brazil squad, and Real Madrid will probably be after him because
of the price tag on Ivanovic.
Rafinha – Age 26 – market value of
£7.9 million
We're going with the Samba Boys again here in
another right back. This is the big cheaper-gamble option. It
wouldn't take anywhere near his value to get him. Probably half.
Rafinha, currently at Bayern Munich and out of favour there after an
average season at best, was not helped out by an injury which saw
young David Alba take his spot. But Rafinha is a solid player and
could flourish in the Premier League. For some reason, most
Brazilians don't seem to fit in too well with the Bundesliga and
Bayern would let him go (he's already been offered in player + cash
deal), so Chelsea could take a gamble here.
